Ship unloader protects environment

Ashdod Port Company Ltd has signed a contract with Bruks Siwertell for the delivery of a toally enclosed Siwertell ST 490-M screw-type ship unloader which will be rail-mounted and used to discharge sulfur and pet coke at continuous rated capacities of 600t/h and 500t/h respectively from vessels up to 60 000 dwt at Ashdod Port.

“Ashdod Port Company chose Siwertell technology to secure its substantial and growing dry bulk cargo volumes for a number of reasons,” explained Bertil Andersson, Siwertell sales manager. “Most significantly, our Siwertell unloaders are the only proven solution for safe, enclosed and continuous sulfur unloading. They also meet the port’s strict environmental requirements, handling materials without dust or spillage.”

Ashdod’s bulk terminal operates 24 hours a day and the new ship unloader is destined to serve this facility. The Siwertell ship unloader has been ordered as part of the port’s major expansion plans.

Safety first

Although a valuable and widely used commodity, sulfur is highly toxic, volatile and corrosive. For these reasons, it is now environmentally unacceptable for it to be spilled during unloading. However, its containment increases the likelihood of ‘hot spots’ creating the potential to explode and cause fires.

“We know how to deal with these dangers,” noted Mr Andersson. “Our sulfur-handling ship unloaders have been supplied to the market for over 30 years.

“All these units are fitted with the Siwertell Sulfur Safety System (4S), which detects and extinguishes fires early, shutting down the system to stop their spread, and safely containing them before they can become a full-blown blaze.

“To contain explosions, steel casings are reinforced and explosion-venting valves are fitted along the conveyors to relieve pressure.”

Delivery is scheduled for April 2021.