Fairlift arrives with the partly dismantled bauxite unloader

Project Summary

A 2,000 t/hr Bauxite Shipunloader was delivered to the Alunorte pier in Vila do Conde, Brazil, in September 1996. This shipunloader, designed by Italimpianti and built by Sade Vigesa, had been erected at the Verolme yard in Angra dos Reis, Brazil. For the ocean transportation, the heavy-lift ship Fairlift, owned and operated by Jumbo Navigation N.V., was contracted. The bucket elevator type shipunloader, weighing approximately 1,100 t, was disassembled and its three major parts were lifted onto the heavy-lift ship using the Verolme gantry crane. Each part was then secured for the voyage using Jumbo's standard slings and turnbuckles. On August 19, the seafastening operation was completed and the Fairlift departed.

Early morning on August 27, the ship arrived at the offloading pier in Vila do Conde. Immediately upon arrival, the lashings of the gantry were removed and the gantry was lifted from the ship onto the quay rails, using the Fairlift's aft crane. After preparation of the 8 m diameter ball bearing, the 335 t upper part was lifted from the ship and positioned onto the gantry. For this lift, both ship cranes with a combined lifting capacity of 650 t were used.

The Fairlift than shifted towards the end of the pier, after which the shipunloader boom was connected with the bucket elevator, still stowed on the ship's deck. The concrete counter weight blocks as well as the two tie rods were installed, using a mobile crane. Upon completion of the counter weight installation, the shipunloader was able to safely lift the bucket elevator free from the heavy-lift ship.

Argonautics Marine Engineering was hired by Sade Vigesa to assist with the transportation engineering and on-site assistance of the loading and offloading operations.

Scope of Work

The project scope included:

• Confirm feasibility of transportation and re-assembly of the bauxite shipunloader;

• Review of all loading/transportation/offloading procedures;

• Independent stability and ship motion analyses;

• Structural analysis of the shipunloader parts subjected to lifting forces;

• Structural analysis of the shipunloader parts subjected to dynamic loading during transport;

• Designs for internal strengthening and seafastening of loose parts;

• On-site assistance during loading, internal seafastening and offloading/assembly operations.

Project Photographs

The gantry was lifted off the ship and set onto its shore rails by the ship's aft crane.	The upper section was lifted by both ship cranes in tandem and set onto the gantry ball bearing.	Using a mobile shore crane, the concrete counter weights were installed.	The bucket elevator was connected to the lift arm and lifted free of its transportation support frame.