Precarious Conditions on the Dock

Rail-traveling ship loaders are a familiar sight on the Gulf Coast (and around the world)—and they are essential to the efficient loading of bulk materials. Disruption to the operation of these massive machines directly affects productivity and the bottom line, as represented by one company's experience when wind from a severe storm knocked the machine off its rails, leaving it dangerously close to the edge of the dock.

In this case, the damaged ship loader was a 70'-tall structure with a 30' x 32' base and a 120' horizontal boom. The entire system weighed approximately 342 tons.

Rapid Response

Speedy removal of the damaged ship loader was critical to the safety of dock operations. The client asked for the entire system to be removed in just four days.

As part of an emergency service, Deep South was tasked with securing the ship loader, which had a damaged tower leg that sat very close to the edge of the dock. Adding to the complexity of the effort were the unspecified high center of gravity of the overall structure and the limited space for bringing in equipment, constrained by the ship loader’s existing tracks.

In response, Deep South mobilized a Liebherr LTM 1220-5.1/5.2 with 265-ton lifting capabilities within a small 5-axle footprint as well as a 120-ton Liebherr LTM 1100-4.1/4.2 with a 4-axle footprint and a 197’ telescopic main boom and swing-away jib, two 12-axle-line Scheuerle SPMTs, and other support equipment. The LTM 1220 proved especially valuable given the unknown weight of the ship loader components that had to be removed prior to moving the ship loader on the SPMTs.

SPMT suspension pressures were used to verify the center of gravity of the loader prior to relocation.

Safe, Speedy Outcome

By the end of the first day, the Deep South team had the ship loader stabilized. The ship loader was then relocated 200 yards to the north end of the dock, allowing for the continuation of ship loading and unloading. The damaged components were also lifted, loaded, and transported from the dock site.

• Equipment Used

  • Liebherr LTM 1220-5.1/5.2
  • Liebherr LTM 1100-4.1/4.2
  • Scheuerle SPMT

• Services Used

  • Heavy Haul
  • Daily Lifting
  • Custom Solutions
  • Rapid Response