SATISFYING THE rapidly growing demand for reefer (refrigerated container) space at Cape Town harbour could present a double whammy, according to Malcolm Green, port operations manager.
Our reefer market continues to grow, he said. We've had to scramble a solution to finding capacity in a harbour where space is at a premium.
And the proposed solution (store vertically, not laterally) could also offer a more than adequate substitute for the much discussed wind wall - a now-famous proposal for beating the Cape's notorius south easterly gales. Winds which too frequently lead to ship-loading shut-downs at the container quays.
We feel we have an answer to reefer stacking, which will also act as a wind wall, said Green.
Every reefer on the ground occupies space for up to five standard containers which are stacked on top of each other.
So the answer for reefers is to do the same. Rather than go sideways, we can build a vertical racking system, said Green, each slot with a plug point.
Even when empty of reefers, the wind wall effect remains - with the cladding on the racking system acting as a wind damper. There's another technical trick. The structure will be dotted with openings, designed in such a way, say the scientists, that the broken air flow adds to the barrier effect.
We're now at the stage where the CSIR is running simulator testing of the scheme, said Green.
Copyright Now Media (Pty) Ltd
No article may be reproduced without the written permission of the editor
To respond to this article send your email to joyo@nowmedia.co.za
