Setting new records

New benchmarks for the
loading of bulk ore are being
set almost weekly by the Maputo
Port Development Company
(MPDC), following the acquisition
of new mobile harbour cranes
with automatic tipplers and
the reconfiguration of the bulk
terminals.
Ongoing dredging and the
extension of berths on the Matola
side have enabled the port to handle
Panamax-sized bulk vessels.
The terminal’s planned average,
including pushing up/cargo
separation is 324 tons per crane hour,
and 360 tons per crane hour on drop
stow vessels, according to Kemraj
Mahabeer from the MPDC planning
department.
The stretch targets are 342 tons
per crane hour and 396 tons per
crane hour, respectively.
In October the port achieved 369
tons per crane hour working on the
MV Bulk Malaysia, which was loaded
with 40 000 tons of ore and left with
a DWT of 95 766 tons, he says.
The terminal has now set itself
a new target of 396 tons per crane
hour.
“We now have weekly calls by
gearless vessels, and we are pushing
to load them to 80 000 tons even
before channel dredging has been
completed,” says chief logistics
manager Marla Calado.
“Our productivity rates have
been amazing! We had estimated
that with the new cranes we would
achieve 16 swings per hour.
“The average has been 22 swings
per hour and we have even achieved
as much as 27. The challenge is now
to deliver this performance on a
consistent basis.
“In mid-October we loaded 470
tons/per crane/per hour in the
morning shift and 549 tons/per
crane/per hour in the night shift on
the MV TW Hamburg
“This is the best productivity rate
we have ever achieved,” she says.
CAPTION
The record-setting Maputo terminal