THE Port of Ngqura has shown off its first piece of maintenance equipment since it started operations in 2009, a R1,8 million crane truck specifically modified to meet the port’s unique requirements.
Deputy Port Engineer Tauqeer Ahmed said the crane was adapted to have a winch and cable attached to the end of the its boom so that tyre fenders that fall into the water could be fished out.
“The total depth of the sea bed from the top of the quay wall could be up to 23 metres at the deepest point. The crane truck will be able to fish out any tyre fenders from this depth. It is basically a giant fishing rod,” he said.
With a lifting capacity of 10 tons and the ability to load and transport a 6-metre container, it will mainly be used for maintenance of port infrastructure such as the Automated Mooring System, the Sand Bypass, quay walls and tyre and element fenders on the quay wall. It will also be used to transport equipment and maintenance material.
“The ultimate benefit of the crane truck will be to improve maintenance turnaround time and to save cost versus hiring the equipment, which is costly and not always readily available.”
The truck is supplied with a UD online Telematix service contract that monitors and maximises performance. It will allow us to monitor among others the truck location, vehicle tracking, fuel consumption, working hours and service intervals.
The contract was awarded to Billson Trucking Port Elizabeth, who managed the modification locally. The truck and crane have different manufacturers. UD manufactured the truck, FASSI manufactured the crane and Rencor Engineering and Hydraulics installed the crane onto the truck.