The maritime industry is continuously evolving, with increasing demands for larger ships, higher throughput, and resilience against extreme environmental conditions. At the heart of these changes is the need for infrastructure that can withstand the test of time. ASPEC Engineering, in collaboration with Rendel Limited, presents a detailed look at the Hay Point Shiploader and Berth Replacement (SABR) project. This cutting-edge project, highlighted at the 35th PIANC World Congress, demonstrates how innovative engineering can extend the service life of marine facilities by 50 years.
One of the three berths at BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA)’s Hay Point Coal Terminal near Mackay in Queensland, Australia, was constructed in the early 1970s and comprises of a shiploader, three concrete berthing caissons, two mooring caissons and five approach caissons. The berth was designed by Rendel Palmer and Tritton, forerunner to Rendel Ltd and shiploader by McDowell-Wellman. The recently completed shiploader and berth replacement (SABR) project at this terminal involved the installation of a new shiploader and an upgrade of the berth, along with associated infrastructure. The new shiploader has a capacity of up to 8,000 tonnes per hour, which is significantly higher than the capacity of the original shiploader which was 6,000 tonnes per hour. The upgraded berth is suitable for larger vessels, which, in combination with the larger capacity shiploader, will increase the export capacity of the terminal. This paper describes how the service life of such marine facilities can be extended by retrofitting to meet the changing needs of the bulk shipping industry, to increase throughput and to adapt to environmental conditions and climate change.
Download the full paper below to explore the detailed engineering approaches that are setting new benchmarks for the future of marine infrastructure.
Richard Morgan is a Structural Engineer and Director of Aspec Engineering with extensive experience in bulk materials handling and ports. He is chairman of Australian Standards Committee ME43 for materials handling machines. He is a Chartered Professional Engineer.