Container weighing system attracts SA port interest

South Africa’s port
authorities have shown keen
interest in an ‘intelligent’
container weighing system
that could put the screws on
overweight containers once
and for all.
The LASSTEC “Smart
Twistlock” load sensing
system is the first technology
that measures the load
“where it really happens”
– and that’s directly in the
spreader twistlock, says Beat
Zwygart, managing director
of LASSTEC Sarl, marketers
of the product. “A tiny built-in
sensor calculates the load on
the twistlock by measuring its
elongation – and precision is
absolute because the twistlock
is actually the load cell,”
Zwygart told FTW.
With the World Shipping
Council (WSC) proposing the
mandatory weighing of all
containers at port of departure
before they are stowed
aboard a vessel for export,
the technology could play a
significant role.
But legislation aside, there
are many good reasons for
weighing containers before
they are stowed, says Zwygart.
“Optimal weight distribution
on the vessel leads to optimal
stowing of containers as well
as optimal vessel utilisation.
Equally importantly it avoids
releasing onto the road
eccentrically loaded containers
that exceed axle weights on
road trucks.”
The system has not only
caught the interest of Transnet
Port Terminals. LASSTEC
has several projects pending
as a result of the intermodal
exhibition held in Cape Town
last October, said Zwygart.
“We have about 30 systems
in operation today. The first
was installed at Felixstowe
in the UK where we could
do extensive tests on an RTG
crane. We now have systems
in operation on each continent
and in many different types of
application.”
The question is what a
terminal does once it has
identified an overloaded
container, he added. “Some
terminals refuse to handle
it, some ask the forwarder to
repack it into two containers
and some turn a blind eye.”
There’s also been significant
interest from railway
authorities. “The railroads
are interested in an accurate
weighing system for revenue
reasons,” said Zwygart. “Being
able to weigh containers that
are being loaded onto rail
allows them to maximise
revenues. In the USA, for
example, some railroad
companies charge based on
weights. But the weights are
taken from the forwarder and
these are not challenged or
re-checked.”
In South Africa, FTW
understands that a task team
has been appointed by the
Department of Transport
to look into the issue of
overweight containers.
Because around 75% of
containers are carried from
Gauteng to the ports, the DoT
is keen to prevent road damage
by weighing containers before
and after they’re loaded onto
trucks.
Clearly the system has
plenty of benefits for all
involved – but how the costs
will be allocated is a debate all
on its own.