"Mama Mobokoli" arrives in the Congo, ready to revolutionize unloading

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SEPTEMBER 2008

After a 39-day, 4,915 nautical mile journey across the Atlantic in the future, Seaboard can easily transport the E-Crane barge to Ocean, from the port of Zeebrugge, Belgium, plus a three-day a new location, rather than leave behind an expensive facility. trip up the Congo River, the E-Crane Mama Mobokoli (mother “We investigated various options and equipment that takes care) midstream transfer station arrived on 20 August manufacturers,” Gutsch said. “Our first choice was the E-Crane. at its final destination at Matadi, Democratic Republic of Congo. This decision was based originally on an E-Crane dockside The new, state-of-the-art E-Crane is designed to provide greatly facility we visited in Houston, Texas that was very close to what improved production and operational efficiency and economy for Seaboard Corporation’s Midema grain unloading and flour mill operations. “By 2007 the unloading procedures for Handy and Handymax vessels at our Midema grain operation had become a serious problem, and it was quite obvious that we needed to revamp the whole operation,” said Seaboard Corporation vice president Jim Gutsch. “What wasn’t quite so obvious was how to get the most efficient and dependable equipment and system available—for now and with substantial capacity for future growth. You just don’t dare make mistakes in choices like that.” Seaboard had to first decide whether to invest heavily in the dated and neglected existing Matadi infrastructure or build a new quay (only one of ten original quays is still working) or whether to take a new tack. Matadi is the inland port the farthest up the Congo River and has major congestion problems. After reviewing a number of E-Crane 1500 Series floating bulk handling options, Seaboard decided that a floating trans-loading terminal has a reach of 35.9 metres, a lifting station was the fastest, most flexible and most costcapacity of 13.5 tonnes, and unloading capacity effective solution. of 400 tph. Further, if it becomes necessary to move the operation

PORTS, TERMINALS & LOGISTICS

‘Mama Mobokoli’ arrives in the Congo, ready to revolutionize unloading

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"Mama Mobokoli" arrives in the Congo, ready to revolutionize unloading by E-Crane Worldwide - Issuu