Operators struggle to tackle excessive downtime

In a wide ranging study of the current issues affecting port operators, engineering consultants and contractors in the ports, harbours and terminals sector, Trelleborg’s ‘Barometer Report’ exposes worrying signs of underinvestment in safety and preventative maintenance.

The research also highlights a lack of focus on whole life equipment cost, which could be contributing towards excessive levels of unplanned downtime.

For example nine out of 10 (92%) operators say they suffer from unplanned interruptions, while almost half (45%) admit that 50% or more of their downtime is unscheduled.

Despite this, respondents claim that they are prepared to spend more on preventative maintenance, and focus on whole life costs when procuring critical equipment. However just 6% believe that safety is an investment priority and over a third (37%) of the respondents also acknowledged that maintenance levels have decreased as a result of budget pressures.

Richard Hepworth, managing director of Trelleborg Marine Systems, said: “These are troubling findings to say the least and made all the more concerning when you consider that half the market admits to pushing down supplier prices when it comes to the procurement of equipment critical to safe and efficient port operations.

“Ports appear to want to run more efficiently – they say it’s their number one priority – but it appears the current mindset is to focus on equipment price only rather than take safety, maintenance and reliability effects into their investment decisions.

“Ironically, this opens the door to cheap, imitation products and trading companies with little, or no, technical knowledge. Many of these provide products which barely provide a short term fix for clients, let alone an increase in long term productivity.

“As a supplier which invests considerable amounts of time and money into materials, product development and quality assurance, we find this market trend very concerning.”

Eric Van den Eede, president of PIANC, added: “It’s clear from this research, which sparked some healthy debate at our recent Congress in Liverpool, that the time is ripe for another look at the PIANC recommendations on berthing, docking, mooring and marine systems. A working group ‘Berthing velocities and fender design’ was set up recently.

“It’s important that we draw on the collective expertise of the market, listen to their feedback and bring forward new guidelines which will raise standards across the supply chain. It’s the standards that should dictate price, not the other way around.”

Trelleborg Marine Systems has presented its research to the PIANC working group and will be involved in the consultation process as the organisation seeks to enhance future accreditation guidelines.

Meanwhile, Trelleborg has developed a five point action plan for port operators and third parties involved in the specification and procurement of critical berthing, docking and mooring equipment:

• Place whole life costs at the heart of your decision making process
• Avoid low cost, low grade, imitation products and trading companies
• Only use suppliers with in-house design and manufacturing capability
• Prioritise suppliers with technical support, track record & endorsement
• Recognise your supplier’s input – their experience could save time and project costs

Trelleborg’s Barometer Report is available now, as a free download, from www.takesthepressureoff.com.