Maltese cranes take it on truss
In order to expand capacity, Malta Freeport has needed to undertake some heavy lifting. On this occasion it is what not about lifting containers but rather, the container cranes themselves.
In order to get 23 quayside cranes operational by this autumn, a special system was brought in by Vancouver BC and Virginia USA located Global Rigging and Transport (GRT) to relocate the three cranes already in place. It is called the Containerised Transport Truss System (CTTS) and has been developed for the land transport of cranes without the need for disassembly. Comprised of two separate trusses, CTTS has been designed to move cranes weighing up to 2,000 tons, and the reach has the ability to span all the way across to the waterside sill beam of cranes with a rail gauge of up to 100 feet.
Interestingly, each truss is made up of 15 main components and designed to be shipped inside standard containers for easy mobilisation and demobilisation to locations worldwide.
The ZPMC crane weighed 1,900 tons and was moved a distance of 1,200m, over a route which ran right through the heart of the port. The travel was further complicated by the requirement to negotiate four 90 degree corners.
Following a detailed route map, the truss and crane were transported using a group of self powered and self steering hydraulic dollies. The truss can also be rigged for transport using platform trailers, depending on which option is the most cost effective. In this case, GRT completed the movement of all three cranes over a period of ten days, a full three days ahead of the projected schedule.
The primary function of the truss system is to reduce the time required for relocating cranes within shipping terminals. The company points out that 95% of the preparation work involved can be performed in remote areas of the port so as not to interfere with normal operations. Once completely erected, the truss is then transported on its own wheels and installed under the crane to be moved.
Because the crane remains fully intact throughout the entire process, a container crane can be moved within a shipping terminal in a period of 72 hours from start to finish with a minimal impact on activity within the port.
