The Challenge:
Developing a Practical Midstream Unloading Solution in Matadi
Seaboard needed an efficient way to unload wheat for its MIDEMA flour mill operations from vessels up to Handymax size. A floating midstream ship unloading and transloading station offered the required operational concept, but developing a practical solution for the local conditions proved challenging. Limited local infrastructure meant that some of the initial concepts, although technically possible, were not practical to implement. The project therefore required close cooperation between Seaboard and E-Crane to develop a commercially viable floating terminal with particular attention to crane placement and maximum stability.
“In all my years in engineering and purchasing equipment for jobs around the world, I have never encountered a supplier that was so determined and dedicated to find a practical solution. The Midema project was complex and difficult. The first suggestions offered by E-Crane® were possible but not practical due to lack of local infrastructure. The E-Crane® team continued to work on improving the concept until a commercially viable and practical solution was found and agreed on.”
Jim Gutsch
The Solution:
A Floating Terminal Engineered Around Local Conditions
E-Crane worked closely with Seaboard throughout the development of the midstream transfer facility, using conceptual design studies to determine the optimum configuration. Rather than applying a standard solution, the project team continued refining the concept until it met the practical, commercial, and operational requirements of the Matadi location.
The solution includes:
BUSINESS OUTCOME
