MARITIME regulations are becoming increasingly stringent to mitigate any potential risk to cargo ships, as well as their freights and crew members – out at sea and in port. In line with new amendments to the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) regulations, the shipping and freight industry are now required to provide carriers with a Verified Gross Mass (VGM) for each loaded container before it can be placed onto any ship.
Konecranes, as a manufacturer and supplier of cranes and heavy lifting equipment, and supplied by EIE Group in South Africa, has launched its first-ever digital static Weighing Systems Solutions for use in South African ports. While already proving effective in reducing weighing times, the system is currently being reviewed for accreditation by the South African National Accreditation System (SANAS).
Key Accounts Sales Manager at EIE Group’s Heavy Lift division, Lenny Naidoo, says the Konecranes Static Weighing System offers reliability and increased productivity for port operations. “The Static Weighing System allows reach stackers to hydraulically measure the weight of lifted containers, with 1% full-scale accuracy achieved in less than five-seconds.”
Naidoo adds that the system is simple to operate, with the operator initiating the weighing process from a multi-touch control display inside the cabin once the container is lifted into its transport position.
“The VGM container data is then sent to the in-cab modem which, in turn, shares the data specific to that container. This data is then automatically transferred and stored in the a KONECRANES.com customer portal cloud-based service, allowing for seamless integration between the weighing systems and users’ Terminal Operating System (TOS), Transport Management System (TMS) or Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems. Finally, a report is created through the TRUCONNECT system.”
The weighing system reports on detailed information such as gross container mass, exact container ID, time and date stamps on each container, operator details and lift truck data. In addition, the system detects the location of the container, making for easier container picking and loading.
“Importantly, utilising the system will allow customers to comply with SOLAS regulations, while also reaping the benefits of improved operational efficiency and productivity. As the industrial revolution impacts all sectors, the seamless and technologically-advanced Konecranes Static Weighing System is just another way we see our industry solutions benefiting our customers’ operations, making their lives easier and their businesses more profitable,” concludes Naidoo.
