New high tech crane set to double Richards Bay MPT's neobulk loading capacity

Feb 27, 2008
Author: Lunga Ngcobo

Richards Bay, 22 February 2008 - Transnet Port Terminals’ Richards Bay multipurpose terminal team received a welcome injection into its crane fleet with the arrival of components of a brand new R38 million Liebherr LHM500 mobile harbour crane on board the Beluga Projects vessel earlier this month.

The equipment, weighing approximately 500 tonnes, is the first crane to be purchased by the terminal in just over a decade. It boasts a lifting capacity of 140 tonnes - and will initially be used to speed up the terminal’s neobulk handling operations to 20 moves per hour. Neobulk cargo refers to over-sized, single commodity cargo which is transported in skips rather than on a conveyor belt. Current cranes in use at the terminal are only able to complete eight to ten crane moves per hour of 20 tonnes.

Says Thinus Nel, MPT Projects Manager: “The introduction of the new crane will have immediate benefits for our customers as it means we will be able to handle their cargo twice as quickly and efficiently, which in turn improves the overall throughput of the terminal and reduce vessel turn around time.”

The Liebherr LHM 500 crane offers flexibility in its movement with its ability to swing vertically, horizontally and diagonally up to a radius of 51m. Its handling efficiency is boosted by a container spreader able to lift 20 containers an hour if required, as well as a four-rope feature for versatility and the ability to operate a ‘grab’ facility if required. The crane is also able to handle substantial lifts and considerable distance from its centre.

Victor Mkhize, Transnet Port Terminals Business Unit Executive at Richards Bay MPT, welcomed the arrival of the crane, saying that it would assist in creating a more efficient and safer operations environment at Richards Bay’s MPT, as well as offer cost benefits to both Transnet Port Terminals and its customers.

“Apart from the increased loading rates, the new Liebherr will improve vessel turnaround times at the terminal and this saving in terms of time and money will of course be passed on to our valued customers,” said Mkhize.

“In addition to that, it has unique technical features like an optimised undercarriage that will allow us to lift skips without involving our operatives in unsafe physical labour during lifting and loading. It’s all managed through the in-house designed control system, so our employees are safer, our work faster and our customers, hopefully, happier.” said Mkhize.

The crane components were offloaded from the Beluga Projects vessel on the afternoon of arrival and partly assembled at the quayside over the following days using a 30-year old Gottwaldt crane, which had previously been used at Richards Bay harbour to position concrete blocks called “dolosse” during initial construction of the pier. The Gottwaldt would then be transferred to Transnet National Ports Authority while the terminal’s 11-year old Reggiane crane will be refurbished as it has reached its mid-life cycle.

Once offloaded and partly assembled, the new Liebherr crane would be driven approximately 250m to its final destination at the terminal where assembly would be completed. It is expected to be commissioned towards the end of March, after which crane operatives will commence a two-week training period to ensure that they are familiar with its workings.

The R38 million crane investment forms part of Transnet Port Terminals’ hefty R300 million capital expenditure programme in Richards Bay to reinvigorate capacity and performance at the city’s multipurpose terminal over the next few years. In total, Transnet Ltd plans to spend R28 billion on port-related projects over the next five years to meet the country’s growing sea-based trade demands.