Well here we go again John, and Lyn asking for information regarding design and logistics with out giving us any adequate information;in other words trolling for free advice.

A. You do not have clients for your coal or if you do you will not reveal them.

A1. you have not stated desired tonnages inbound and outbound to customers. How many days stockpile storage will you require to allow for short product falls and delivery problems from inbound shipping?

B. You do not have nor mentioned a desired location for a terminal for storage and transport.

C. You have no idea what is involved for the transloading stockpiling, reclaiming, reloading and delivery of coal let alone an adequate discussion regarding fixed and mobile equipment inventory.

D. You have not mentioned any available infrastructure that you may have access to.

D1. What about available electricity for the stock pile and reclaim areas? do you have three phase powere nearby with at least

34,500 volts AC.

E. There has been no mention of a location for a deep water berth or shallow berthing for barges and tugs for transloading of the coal.

E1. What about rail service from the berthing point to the stock yard? Have you looked at the economies for that method of shipping.

E2. what about testing of the coal for heat value-therms etc. will it be at port or stock yard. what about direct cost discounts for added moisture content?

F. What type of coal is it, sub lignite, lignite, sub bituminous, bituminous, sub anthracite, anthracite, You have told us nothing and expect a doctoral disertation approach to a general inquiry which requires many months of research involving weather patterns, tides, tidal flows, river currents, available local shipping, possible shipping routes for water transit, no mention of roads and road conditions has been offered by you as well and this is problem as heavy road trucks are a world all by themselves not including maintenance for them and fuel useage, let alone driver training and suitable roads.

G. You have not even mentioned anything about your potential market; be it residential , commercial or for power generation cogen or other wise for electricity.

H. Is the coal a low grade steam coal for power generation?, is it high grade metalurgical steam coal for a cogen plant?, is it coal destined for an evaporative salt plant or a soda ash plant using stokers to make steam for electricity and mineral extraction using the Solvay process? Or for that matter is it soft coal destined for home heating and cookinguse such a is used in many countries utilizing a press system with a ring of air holes in the coal block such as used by the chinese to faciltate adequate combustion of the soft coal in a home stove used for cooking and heating?

What are your countries regulations regarding pollution control from coal dust runoff? What about adequate fire protection regarding the stockpiles as they will be prone to sponataneos combustion and smouldering, what fire protection standards do you have for your stationary equipment and mobile equipment?

Talk to my friend Anil Seth if you want relevent consulting work or any other practicing licensed engineer that you (should get and need to pay for!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Asking general questions such as yours do not belong on the forum as they take years of study to determine the result

You need to do a lot of work before you do anything regarding this project and you should do it not ask us for general advice; at least in my opinion anyway.

My two cents regarding this endeavor. ■

So employ a consultant and learn from him!

I am frequently suprised, maybe I shouldn't be, that so many people expect free indepth consultancy and engineering. ■