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Case
Study -
The Avonmouth Container Terminal
The
Avonmouth Container Terminal was originally developed by Bell Lines
and was constructed according to the concept typical of Bell Line's
terminals. The Terminal was therefore based on one wide span container
crane which not only served the ship loading and discharge functions
but also stacking between the legs and serving lorry and rail traffic
in the backreach. Since the demise of Bell Lines, the Terminal has
been operated by the Bristol Port Company, who have added a second
crane. The first crane, which was sized to serve typical feeder
vessels, is relatively low. The second crane was sized to serve
the largest ships capable of entering Avonmouth Docks and so has
both a greater height and a greater outreach. Neither crane was
originally fitted with a ship/crane anti-collision device.
Both cranes
have experienced collisions with vessels. The newer crane was impacted
by a ship-mounted jib crane which was moved without warning by the
crew. The older crane was driven into a ship's radio antennae while
the driver was plumbing a load in the back-reach. Considerable damage
was done to this critical and vulnerable equipment and a substantial
claim ensued. It is difficult to see how any anti-collision device
could have prevented the first accident. However, The Bristol Port
Company considered that an effective anti-collision system should
be installed due to the nature of the typical duty cycle of these
cranes and the probability of a repetition of the circumstances.
Consequently, The Bristol Port Company commissioned Navtech to develop
a system capable of detecting objects as thin as 10mm and in all
weather conditions at a sufficient distance to enable the crane
to be brought to a halt without impact. This system is now in place
on the older (lower) crane and is in daily operation.
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