Page 53: of Maritime Logistics Professional Magazine (Sep/Oct 2017)

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EQUIPMENT “The idea to use our ship to move these cranes was pre- in part, to raise the port’s exposure to the general public, two sented, and a contract was negotiated and signed. Things Charleston elementary students earned $500 from SCPA for moved very quickly as the ship was now waiting for the their school, thanks to their winning entries in a Port contest to cranes which had about 3-4 weeks’ worth of preparation be- name cranes at the Wando Welch Terminal. A team of SCPA fore being ready to load on the ship. During this time Hurri- employees selected two entries, which have been painted onto cane Matthew hit the east coast and shut down operations for the cranes. Cranebob Bluepants and Heavy Metal were the over a week. Finally, with prep work completed, the cranes winning entries. loaded, transported, and unloaded, we received an e-mail Elsewhere, the tallest port crane in North America was re- from DP World last week with a picture of both cranes work- cently raised to that height by ZPMC, which raised the crane ing a ship for the frst time.” This assignment was truly the 33 feet (10.08 meters) to prepare for Ultra-Large Container ultimate ‘turnkey job,’ attempted and completed under some- Vessels calling at APM Terminal’s Pier 400. In a landmark times trying circumstances. project that kicked off July 1, 2016, ZPMC is upgrading

ZPMC’s heavylift vessel Zhen Hua 14 stood by in Charles- 10 cranes for APM Pier 400 Terminal. When complete, the ton for the preparation work to be completed as a 30-man cranes will be able to service ships carrying up to 20,000

ZPMC crew jacked up the cranes and performed the altera- twenty-foot equivalent containers (TEUs). Prior to this crane tions. But on October 7, fve weeks into the project, the vessel raise, the largest vessels that could be serviced at the Port of was ordered out to sea to take it out of the path of Hurricane Los Angeles were 13,000 TEUs. The scope of work also in-

Matthew. The project was idled for 10 days until the ship cludes installing a new energy-effcient LED lighting system, could return. Eventually, the vessel made the six-day trip to forestay repairs, and repositioning of all 10 cranes.

New Brunswick, and offoaded the frst crane on November 1.

LOOKING AHEAD:

Notably, ZMPC offoaded the frst crane on a rising tide in 35 minutes using the ship’s specialized gear. The second crane

NEW TOYS, BETTER SERVICE was unloaded in just 28 minutes.

As good as its performance has been over the course of

Before all of that could happen, however, the delivery of the past 12 months, ZPMC is always looking to improve its

SCPA’s two super post-Panamax cranes marked a signifcant service signature. That effort includes making sure its crews milestone in the Port’s big ship readiness. This is to be fol- have the best equipment available to speed the jobs along even lowed in the coming years by the completion of the Wando faster. To that end, ZPMC Crane Services recently acquired

Welch wharf project and harbor deepening to 52 feet. The a second specially designed jacking system that offers a sig-

ZPMC-manufactured cranes now provide SCPA with 155 feet nifcant speed advantage during a crane raise. Because the of lift height from the dock to enable SCPA to work larger jacking system is built on the dock rather than the crane’s sill container cargo ships. Last month the SCPA Board of Direc- beam, it does not need to be disassembled between cranes. tors approved the purchase of two additional cranes of this A completed crane can be moved out of the way leaving 90 size for delivery at the end of 2017, coinciding with the com- percent of the structure intact. This approach can speed up the pletion of the wharf project. The deal represents still more re- process by as much as a week for each crane. Beyond this, peat business for ZPMC.

the frm also purchased 16 new Self-Propelled Modular Trans-

For his part, Jim Newsome, SCPA’s President and CEO porter (SPMT) trailers for current and future work.

was effusive in his praise of the ZPMC team. “ZPMC is the

It is these kinds of decisions – and others like them – that world’s largest manufacturer of ship-to-shore container cranes dominate the ZPMC business strategy. In turn it continues and a world class engineering company which has enabled to dominate that markets that it serves. That’s because STS the growth of containerization. We are proud to have them as cranes aren’t just necessary equipment anymore. In fact, the our partner.” And it wasn’t too long after the cranes were de- process of acquiring or shedding one is a carefully planned livered and began working that SCPA reported its strongest event – in and of itself a supply chain; all its own. The success

November container volumes on record. Fiscal year-to-date or failure of that kind of operation can be the ‘make or break’ pier container volume at the port is up 4 percent, with 487,924 for any port or terminal in the fast moving world of bigger boxes moved at its North Charleston and Wando Welch con- ships, demanding shipping alliances and deeper channels. No tainer terminals.

one wants to get left behind is the unbelievably competitive

The arrival of new cranes, especially post-Panamax units is quest to get, keep and grow TEU market share. For its part, typically a joyous event at most ports. SCPA was no different

ZPMC makes sure that doesn’t happen, all in one neatly pack- and in a concerted outreach to the local community designed, aged turnkey operation.

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