Shipping companies are in a race against time at South Africa’s ports to meet environmental requirements for vessel discharge that must be met by 2023.
Companies involved in sophisticated 3D scanning are undertaking on-board work to prepare every ship to meet a 2023 deadline for a waste discharge conversion to conserve marine resources. Shipping disgorges mainly water that is used for engine and temperature control, ballast and general cleaning and ablutions each day.
This water contains contaminants such as oil, cleaning agents, and even alien microorganisms picked up in one area for ballast and then pumped out thousands of kilometres away to potentially devastating effect on the world’s eco-balance.
“New ships have the filtration systems built in to meet environmental protection needs over the working lifespan of a ship, but thousands of older ships must be modified to meet the 2023 deadline. Engineers need a 3D snapshot of target areas to see where adjustments are to be made to introduce acceptable filtration of water being pumped back into the sea from engine rooms, ballast tanks and holds,” says Norbert Plate of Johannesburg-based South African company IQ laser. He heads a team of employees providing the service at the ports of Richards Bay, Durban, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town. Saldanha Bay is expected to come on board soon as well.
To scan, his team goes on board when ships are in port for about 48 hours to set up its equipment for 360-degree all-round 3D scanning. In more challenging assignments, his team is delivered to a ship at anchor off ports with a tender boat. They need to clamber up a rope ladder while carrying their intricate equipment. Usually it means a one- or two-night stay over on board and then reverse the ferry process to get back to land.
“In port, work is relatively simple but we always have to bear in mind tight deadlines to not hold up a vessel’s movements into and out of port as it plies its route to schedules. Working at anchor at sea is much scarier and more complicated because you have to get all sorts of permissions – you even need your passport as you are leaving land for the duration of your work out at sea. Then of course there is the boarding and return, which are always challenges,” explains Plate.
These 3D scans are then sent back to the contracted engineering firm so that it can assess needs for a ship and prepare to make changes by cutting and rerouting piping to introduce adequate filtration. The conversion, based on what the 3D scans reveal, is prepared for and made when the vessel is in a dry dock for its routine check and refurbishment each five or so years.
This particular work has been unaffected by the Covid-19 pandemic which has provided a boon for the laser scanning sector worldwide.
