(PS 7) conventional and oil tanker operations + ship bunkering

port services

conventional port operations

what are customised quay cranes and mobile harbour cranes capable of doing at conventional terminals?

they are capable of handling both containers and general cargo at the same berth to load/discharge conventional cargo and/or containers

conventional port operations

what can quay and mobile harbour cranes handle at modern ports?

• quay cranes can handle twin-lift for containers and general cargoes up to 40 metric tonnes

• mobile harbour cranes can handle heavy lift and general cargoes over 100 metric tonnes

conventional port operations

what types of storage do conventional ports provide?

short and long-term warehouse and open yard storage for both export and imported cargoes

conventional port operations

what do most conventional ports use to handle specialised cargoes?

they have dedicated quays and wharves with equipment to handle specialised cargoes

conventional port operations

how is cement handled at conventional ports?

dedicated deep-water cement berths have screw unloaders that discharge cement in bulk at rates up to 1,000 tonnes per hour

conventional port operations

how is steel cargo handled at ports?

• ports use side loaders at the wharf, and quayside cranes to load/unload steel

• steel is stored in open yards and warehouses

conventional port operations

what do dry bulk carrier berths require?

• large bulkers (ships) require deep water, large powerful cranes, conveyor belts for stacking cargo

• a large flat stacking area is required for cargo storage

conventional port operations

how is bulk cargo loaded and discharged?

bulk cargo is discharged using grabs, and loaded by conveyor belts that carry the cargo from storage to the vessel

conventional port operations

what are Ro/Ro berths used for and what do they include?

Ro/Ro berths have loading ramps for loading and discharging wheeled cargoes

conventional port operations

what are link spans?

link spans are a type of drawbridge used mainly in the operation of moving vehicles on and off a ro/ro vessel to allow for tidal changes

conventional port operations

where are link spans found?

found at ferry terminals

conventional port operations

what do link spans do?

enables vehicles or railroad cars to be loaded/unloaded via ramps at the stern, bow, or side of vessels

oil tanker port operations

why are tanker berths often built on jetties?

because modern large oil tankers need deep water to safely load and discharge cargo

oil tanker port operations

what is a marine loading arm (MLA)?

it’s a mechanical arm made of articulated steel pipes that connects the tanker to the terminal for loading and discharging oil cargo

oil tanker port operations

what is a “chiksan”?

another name for a marine loading arm, which is flexible to allow for tanker movement while docked

oil tanker port operations

why is large storage space important at an oil terminal?

because oil is stored in storage tanks near the berth before being loaded or after being discharged

oil tanker port operations

why are storage tanks placed higher than the berth at loading ports?

to allow oil to flow by gravity into the tanker, which is safer than pumping, as it avoids pressure buildup

oil tanker port operations

how is oil discharged at ports with refineries?

crude oil from a tanker is discharged directly to the refinery via pipelines that lead from the tanker berth

oil tanker port operations

what is an SPM (single buoy mooring)?

a floating loading buoy anchored offshore that serves as a mooring point and interconnection for tankers loading or offloading gas or liquid products

oil tanker port operations

what is an SPM capable of handling?

any tonnage ship

oil tanker port operations

when are SPMs used in shallow water?

to load and unload crude oil and refined products from inshore and offshore oilfields or refineries through some form of storage system

oil tanker port operations

when are SPMs used in deep water?

to load crude oil directly from the production platforms, where there are economic reasons not to run a pipeline to the shore

oil tanker port operations

why are strict procedures important at oil tanker ports?

because oil cargo is toxic, flammable, and a pollutant, so safe operational loading and discharging procedures must follow IMO and OCIMF safety guidelines

ship bunkering

what is bunkering in shipping?

bunkering is the process of supplying fuels to ships for their own use

ship bunkering

which port is one of the largest and most important for bunkering?

Singapore is one of the largest and most important bunkering ports in the world

ship bunkering

how is fuel usually supplied to ships during bunkering?

mostly through a bunker barge which is a small boat or ship that supplies fuel or other types of oil to bigger ships

ship bunkering

what are the three types of marine fuels supplied by bunker barges?

• Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) – used for all medium and low-speed diesel engines

• Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (LSFO) – used on marine diesel engines in Emission Control Areas (ECAs)

• Diesel oil – used for ship generators