Cavotec MSL seals largest mooring deal to date with Port Headland Port Authority, Australia
Maritime systems innovator, Cavotec MSL, has received the largest order to date for the vacuum-based automated mooring solution, MoorMaster™, from the Port Headland Port Authority (PHPA) in Western Australia.
“We have developed this entirely unique solution to meet the PHPA’s specific requirements. This project represents a bold product design evolution based on 10 years of research and development, and demonstrates how adaptable this technology is,” says Cavotec MSL CEO, Ottonel Popesco.
MoorMaster™ is a vacuum-based automated mooring technology that moors vessels in seconds, eliminating the need for conventional mooring lines. The system counteracts vessel surge in port caused by changes in wave dynamics.
Under the contract, Cavotec will supply 14 MoorMaster™ 200B units for the PHPA’s iron ore facility. The systems will service vessels at the port’s Utah Point berth. Cavotec will also provide commissioning and on-site training support. If the initial 14 units prove successful, additional MoorMaster™ systems could be installed in PHPA’s no. 1 berth.
“We face particularly exacting requirements at Port Headland as operating conditions are especially severe. We believe this version of MoorMaster™ will be able to handle these challenges while providing significant time savings and increased safety for personnel compared to traditional mooring techniques,” says PHPA CEO, Andre Bush.
Featuring enhanced sealing properties; the 200B’s vacuum pads are designed to cope with the especially abrasive and viscous nature of iron ore dust. The units are engineered to withstand heavy impact from iron ore ship-loaders, and will also be embedded into the quayside rather than positioned on the dock in contrast to most other existing MoorMaster™ installations. Similar to current units in the MoorMaster™ range, the PHPA’s version will be able to secure a vessel in under 20 seconds, and release in less than seven seconds.
“We always strive to develop a close working relationship with our customers to better meet their specific needs. With this project, we have created an entirely new version of one of our existing systems,” says Popesco.
The 200B units are designed to handle any tidal level at the port, and moor vessels of up to 120,000dwt at 14.0m draft (295m LOA and 41m beam).
The PHPA deal follows the recent announcement that Canada’s St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC) placed a follow-up order for two additional MoorMaster™ systems. The systems for the SLSMC were also specially designed for use in the Seaway where the units will deal with water level variations of up to 14m.
MoorMaster™ has already been installed by Searoad Shipping Australia, Toll in New Zealand, at the APM Terminals container facility at the Port of Salalah in Oman, and will be used on three high frequency fast ferry routes in Denmark, operated by Nordic Ferry Services A/S.
