More accurate positioning increases production at BCTN Alblasserdam

BCTN, part of the Inland Terminals group, wanted to expand its container terminals in Alblasserdam and Roermond. The new container cranes need to be able to position the containers more accurately and thus achieve a higher level of production. On behalf of Lagendijk, specialist in marine installations and ship cranes, Iv managed the entire engineering process, from the concept design to the fabrication drawings.

The project required a design that would fit within the limited space profile, and Iv needed to demonstrate that the design would meet the requirements. After thorough analyses and calculations to optimise the stiffness of the crane structure and the wire rope hoist system, a cost-saving wire rope hoist system was chosen. Lagendijk’s construction method, with bended plates for the box girders, provides an optimal design for increased stiffness and reduced wind loads. This construction method required specific engineering calculations and research.

The crane is currently in the final testing phase, and the initial results are positive, demonstrating that the design works well.

Iv’s design increases the stiffness of the wire rope hoist system, thereby increasing the accuracy of container positioning. The new crane speeds up the loading and unloading of vessels, resulting in considerable time savings. A second crane for the Roermond container terminal is currently being produced at Lagendijk. The crane in Roermond is similar in design to the one in Alblasserdam, with the main difference being a shorter outreach over the water.