Transhippers
Mormugao Port in Goa, India has a draft of 12.5 m alongside iron-ore loading berth.
Transhippers are in use for over 30 years for up-topping cape-size vessels. Now-a-days these vessels also load cape-size and Panamax vessels in open sea in fair weather. Thanshipping equipment has been mounted on handysize, Panamax Cape size vessels as well as pontoons. Loading capacities vary from 12,000 TPD to 60,000 TPD.
Pnumatic fenders are used between transhipper and mother vessel for ease of warping.
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Re: Transhipments
Thanks for the information.
This company is looking to use 3 x 60000dwt ships with bow thrusters that will cycle in and out to load a Panamax. My issue with this would be the ship would need to be warped alongside to load a Cape.
Sounds like a lot of grief in rough weather even with fenders.
Has anyone out there damaged a ship doing this type of thing. ■
Transhippers
There have not been any accidents during transhippments which have damaged either of the vessels in the last 30 years. The vessels just disengage and move away when weather conditions go bad. This happens in April and May before onset of monsoon. At least 4 ranshippers have been added to the fleet in the last 5 years. two of them pontoon mounted, one cape size and one panamax.
Weather (wind, waves and currents) conditions at location where transhippers are to be used have to be studied before you decide on use of such operation in designated area. ■
Re: Transhipments
Hi Vinayak,
Thanks for the information.
I have passed it onto the person asking so he knows it can be done. ■
Transhipments
Has anyone got any experience with transhipment of ore at sea?
I am speaking with a friend who said a company is looking at doing this and wanted to know of anyone has experience of using small Panamax type ships to load cape size ships in deeper water with iron ore?
Mainly, he wants to understand the risks and what can go wrong. The port only has 12m draft available so they want to continue to load without tidal delays. They only have 0.5m tide variance and the port is subject to rough seas and high wind forces.
I feel he would need to warp the ship alongside and the cape may be damaged. Also the discharge time could be longer that expected if the hopper become stuck with ore?
Any issues raised would be helpful. Would you do this? ■