welcome

The effect of covid-19 on terminal operations and measures to minimise its impact will naturally continue to feature, as well as the increasing importance of digitalisation – already very much on the agenda of operators.

Given the importance to Riga – as well as other ports in Latvia and the rest of the Baltic region – of transit cargoes, there was also a focus on rail and transport connectivity. We will be keeping a close eye on how Riga and other ports in the region will be affected by political developments in Belarus, as well as Russia and Ukraine.

Last November, we ran a new online short course entitled Understanding the total cost of ownership – how to avoid future problems and buy bulk solids handling equipment intelligently.

All too often, the operational requirements of the equipment to be supplied is not properly understood by either the buyers or the sellers. Purchase decisions purely based on price fail to understand the true cost of a bulk solids handling system to a business in terms of downtime, energy, maintenance and manning.

Facilitated by The Wolfson Centre for Bulk Solids Handling Technology and members of the Solids Handling & Processing Association (SHAPA), this course gave both terminal operators and equipment manufacturers an insight into what should on the one side be specified and on the other supplied. The course was well received, with a healthy 50/50 terminals and supplier mix of attendees.

Professor Mike Bradley from The Wolfson Centre and Ian Birkinshaw, General Secretary, SHAPA, were the course leaders for days one and two respectively. Bradley was joined by his colleague Dr Baldeep Kaur and the other course tutors were all drawn from SHAPA’s Technical Committee: Eddie McGee, managing director, Ajax Equipment Ltd; Peter Slee-Smith, technical manager, Dodman Ltd and Charles Williams, director, Promtek. A big thank you to all of them.

Bradley introduced the course with an explanation of the nature of the problem, going on to examples of projects that have gone off the rails and identifying the problems with solids handling plant procurement.

The two days continued with a consideration of the importance of bulk solids characterisation; understanding and managing the total cost of ownership of bulk solids processing plants; the practical approach to design to accommodate material characteristics; the value of custom a design over off the shelf equipment; and understanding the true cost of a solids handling system and case studies of risk management in solids handling projects.

Each day, the course split into groups for discussion of the issues raised – how well delegates currently apply best practice, what they can improve for the future and the difficulties to be overcome.

The course will be running gain this year, as will the popular Port and Terminal Operations for Bulk Cargoes short course, online on 14-17 March 2022, and Biomass Operations & Handling Technology, 21-25 February 2022.

The key thing to understand about the handling of bulk materials – and no less so at bulk terminals – is the characteristics of the cargo. This affects the suitability of the machinery, the sizes and throughputs, safety hazards, dust emissions and also the susceptibility of the cargo to damage in handling.

Usually when a shipment is contracted, the paperwork is signed without reference to these things. So, if dealing with a range of different cargoes, or the same cargo but from different sources, it is important to understand how the character might change and how this might affect operations.

The Port and Terminal Operations for Bulk Cargoes short course will cover cargo characterisation; ship unloading; shore side transport; storage and discharge; wear and maintenance; rail Interfaces; cargo quality; safety issues; fire, explosion protection & ATEX regulations and autonomous vehicles.

Delegates will gain an understanding of the reasons for the varied behaviour of powders and particulate materials as they travel across the seas or are stored and transported from ports. Each day will provide the opportunity to discuss operational issues with the presenters and other delegates.

The course is aimed at anyone working in bulk terminals and ports or at sea, who handles or is responsible for the safe transportation of bulk materials.

Biomass Operations and Handling Technology, meanwhile, is designed to help delegates identify and resolve common problems when handling various biomass materials.

The subjects covered will include material types, flow properties and handling equipment requirements; self-heating, fire, explosion protection, ATEX regulations and safety; dust and degradation, pneumatic conveying and wear; dust control and management; engineering of equipment for storage and discharge; ship unloading; biomass potential and possible future trends.

The course is aimed at the manufacturers and suppliers of biomass materials, at the users – particularly those responsible for maintenance and management on site – and at the manufacturers and installers of equipment used to transport and store biomass materials.

To register an interest in attending any of these short training courses, contact events@bulkterminals.org Tel: +33 (0)3 21 47 72 19.

Keep an eye on the Events section of our website for developments and registration details.

Enjoy our winter edition of Bulk Terminals International. Keep in touch and stay safe.

Simon Gutteridge Chief Executive, ABTO Tel: +33 (0)321 47 72 19 Email: ce@bulkterminals.org Web: bulkterminals.org