Container Weighing - Straddle Carrier
The customer, a container terminal, wanted to weigh all containers while the containers were transported around the port. It was important that the weighing could be done without changing or disturbing the existing workflow. Also - it was important for the port to avoid having to install one or more weighbridges where the straddle carriers would have to go to weigh the containers. Space was scarce and expensive, the risk of congestion in front of the weightbridge should be avoided and straddle-time was also a limiting factor.
The solution installed by Tekfa transmitted the weights wirelessly to the customer's server, where the weights of the containers were stored for later use. The port also wanted the driver of each straddle carrier to have a live-overview on a screen to know if the weight of a container was unevenly distributed between the four corners of the container. This objective was also met.
The picture below shows a straddle carrier, a Kalmar ESC 350, while it is weighing a test module that TEKFA built, where the weight was unevenly distributed.
The project was successful and today almost all straddle carriers at the terminal are equipped with TEKFA's load cells, corner weight display in the driver's cabin, wireless transmission to server and communication to N4 Navis (the TOS, the terminal ERP system).
For Tekfa’s customer this project was key to get to know the verified gross mass (VGM) of container ships. This is a duty within the SOLAS convention (the international convention for the Safety Of Life At Sea) that has been getting much more attention during recent years.
As it turns out, it is the shippers’ responsibility to know the VGM of containers whereas it is the port, that most economically can install and operate the accurate and efficient weighing system delivered by TEKFA.
