Efficient crane movement minimises port disruption

The Port of Sines lies 150km south of Lisbon, processing over 50 million tons of cargo per year from more than 2,000 vessels. Following an investment of over R16,8 billion (1 billion Euros), its quay and handling equipment are being enhanced and expanded.

As part of this work, a new ship-toshore crane was being built by steel construction experts URSSA. ALE’s experience in designing complex lifts and handling them safely, as well as their ability to mobilise quickly, made them well-suited for the project.

The crane was received from the client in a state of partial assembly: its boom had been preassembled at ground level, while its legs were upright. ALE was tasked with the jacking-up of the boom structure of the crane at its fabrication location, then skidding it to its final position on rails next to the quay edge.

The 910-ton boom structure was first lifted using a selection of strand jacks with 70 tons, 200 tons and 500 tons capacities, positioned atop the crane’s legs. Due to the boom’s 143-metre length, the lift operation required weeks of preparation for ALE’s engineers.

Thanks to this preparation, the boom was in position three weeks after ALE first set hands on the crane. All 16 strand jacks were then removed from their positions.

The next phase saw the team face further challenges, as the crane needed to be skidded 170m within a strict 20-hour time limit and take an amended route to stay within ground bearing pressure guidelines. This was crucial for the port’s handling operations. As a result, the first 75-metres of the skidding manoeuvre was diagonal, avoiding several underground galleries close to the crane’s rails. The skidding equipment drove a force of 255-ton push-pull jacking capacity.

The completed crane, weighing 1,425 tons and measuring 27.3 metres x 80 metres x 91 metres, was set onto rails over a week.

Throughout the project, ALE’s team were in close contact with the client, communicating the status of the manoeuvre. This crane is now in active use, further expanding the cargo handling capabilities of the Port of Sines.

ALE Heavylift,

+27 (0) 11 453 1946, d.shaw@ale-heavylift.com, www.ale-heavylift.com