TTS Review 6 - TTS Group ASA

emoving the hinge pins, which each
weighed over 400kg and had been in place
eleven years, we had only half an hour to
release them using hydraulic jacks.”
Planning for the project took six
months, including using a simulation tool
to build a 3D animation of the job. The
actual operation took place in September
2007, using a crew of 25 specialists from
around the world. “The trickiest part was
the handling of the submerged pontoon,”
says Jimmerfors. “It’s so big and
asymmetric in form – it weighs 150
tonnes – and we had to bring it through
the surface of the water, which
completely changed its stability.”
Once this huge job had been
completed, the team took the barge to
Harwich and did it all over again! The
barge, by now absolutely fully loaded –
Lundberg says the linkspans overhung the
barge by 5m on each side – was towed to
Belfast, fortunately in good weather. Once
the barge reached the Harland and Wolff
shipyard, the team used one of the
company’s two giant cranes to lift the
linkspans off the barge, and put them
into storage for the winter. During April
of 2008, the team will reconvene in
Belfast and install one of the linkspans in
the new Victoria Terminal Four.
“There are more HSS linkspans that
need attention – Lloyd’s Register says
that they need docking at least every 20
years,” says Lundberg. “What is important
is that we have come up with a method
that can be used to move other
linkspans. There are other shore-sea
interfaces where we could apply the
same method.”
A new generation of translifters for port handling
Anew generation of translifters
for both RoRo and industrial
operations is to be launched by
TTS Liftec. The RoRo 2008 exhibition in
Gothenburg on 20–22 May will see the
unveiling of a series of seven different
models, with payloads ranging from 50-
130 tonnes.
The new models include several
improvements. In the translifter control
systems, sensors have been improved in
terms of reliability, and reduced in
number. “Parallel lifting sensors are now
available in the translifter, so additional
sensor assembly is no longer needed in
the tugmaster,” says Tatu Miikkulainen,
managing director of TTS Liftec.
One of the pre-launch translifter models
Extensive use of modular wire
harnesses has also contributed to
increased reliability and modularity, and
the introduction of load-sensing
hydropneumatic suspension for bogies
means that the translifters adapt
automatically to different load conditions,
assuring the best possible suspension.
“We’ve also improved the user interface,
adding new features such as ‘Teach in’
calibration, and the ability to adjust
Linkspans on route to Belfast
Translifters
different features,” adds Miikkulainen.
Among the optional features is a
newly developed lifting gooseneck, which
improves the stability of the tugmaster
and control of the lifting function. The
gooseneck has been tested in operation
for a year and is now available for all
translifter models. Further options
include xenon work lights, CAN bus
connection to the tugmaster, and a
remote service interface.
TTS Review • April 2008 5