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ViewPOint: dust
THE LOGISTICS OF PORT DUST CONTROL Mike Lewis, dust specialist and VP of sales at BossTek, examines the options available to provide an environmentally friendly, efficient dust control solution
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t’s early morning and the wind rolls across the water, causing a moderate chop on the surface. It’s a sure sign that any dust generated that day will travel a long way, hopefully just down the port, but possibly further into the nearby community. Operators know it well and hope that any complaint calls come to them instead of the local authorities or Environmental Protection Agency. Community
relations is one thing, hosting inspectors and trying to avoid fines is another. With no natural barriers other than landmasses, port waterways can concentrate winds and raise air speed. Ocean and seaport breezes can be unpredictable and environmental conditions can affect the entire operation, from intake to storage to loading.
PROPER POSITIONING OF DUST CONTROL WHEN LOADING RAW MATERIAL REQUIRES MOBILITY
BULK TERMINALS
international | WINTER 2021-22
Port Logistics and Dust The logistical journey of bulk material at a port begins when it is offloaded to the site up to the moment the material hits the deck or hold of a vessel. Every port is unique, and some can be highly specialised. From a dust control standpoint, flexibility is needed to achieve tailored dust control solutions. A dedicated system might cater to the standards of a specific industry. Bulk grain, for example, must be kept dry to prevent mould, so an enclosed system of covered conveyors and silos limits the exposure to rain, but can still have dust emission points at unloading and loading. A specialised port without material-specific restrictions such as handling light and dusty petroleum coke (petcoke) might have a completely open system from train to storage to ship, with dust concerns at every logistical stage. Some ports are generalised as to the type of material they handle from month to month. This introduces its own set of obstacles in preventing particle emissions. For example, a large nearby demolition and construction project can suddenly feed a port tons of scrap and
