TPSV, Valparaiso, Chile - Controlled Collapse of STS Crane

Описание: Terminal Pacífico Sur Valparaíso (TPSV) located on the central Chilean coast located 110 kilometres northwest of Santiago, the capital city of Chile. This proximity and central location makes it a strategic point in commercial distribution with access to more than 50% of the population and national economic activity.

Terminal activities started in the year 2000 as a terminal designed to receive container and multipurpose ships. Only four years later TPSV obtained the ISPS certification, an international standard for the protection of ships and port facilities. This was the first Latin American port to meet the conditions required for this certification. Initially TPSV operated only two Panamax-type gantry cranes, but due to rapid growth significant investment was made in bigger, better and more efficient quay cranes. TPSV now operates a fleet of 9 “New-Panamax” Quay Cranes capable of servicing vessels with 22 rows of containers.

As the city of Valparaíso has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2003, and teamed with the local mountainous terrain, TPSV operates on a very small footprint with no option for expansion. Despite this, due to dense container storage and efficient operation TPSV has a throughput capacity of 1.3million TEU annually from the 14-hectare terminal.

With the aim of increasing operational efficiency in handling ships by optimising quayside resources, Terminal Pacífico Sur Valparaíso (TPS) identified the need to dispose of the oldest of it’s QC’s. After 20 years of operation, Kocks Crane E-GG-03 was to be demolished by means of a controlled collapse, through the same procedure that was executed by O’Brien SCS in 2018, the first time this method had been carried out in Chile. Following the total success of the project complete in 2018, it was an obvious decision for TPSV to re-appoint O’Brien SCS for the controlled collapse of STS E-GG-03.

As the footprint of the TPSV terminal is relatively small in comparison to the volume of container traffic, every single inch of space is utilised to its maximum potential, meaning working area for the demolition was extremely limited. The client wished for the controlled collapse to take place in the same location as the 2018 project, which was extremely tight. The site had a number of obstacles and hazards within close proximity to the area where the crane would come to rest. The O’Brien SCS team calculated that STS E-GG-03 would come to rest 8 metres away from a lighting tower and 10 metres from existing engineering workshops and REEFER gantries. In addition to this, a busy public highway was located only 30 metres from collapsing structure. Working with local authorities, a short period road closure was planned so as to eliminate any potential risk to members of the public. Close coordination with all stakeholders, including the nearby naval base, was of paramount importance to ensure total safety and minimal disruption be caused. The site constraints posed some of the most difficult challenges encountered by the O’Brien SCS, all of which needed to be overcome to successfully demolish the 900ton 90-metre tall Quay Crane.

Following the planning and mobilisation stage, the O’Brien SCS site team arrived in Chile for the project execution carrying out all works involved in the preparation and actual demolition of STS E-GG-03, including the installation of quay deck protection. Once at ground level the crane structure was cut into suitably sized sections for recycling using oxygen and propane cutting equipment. All different waste streams were segregated during the scrap processing with all hazardous materials such as oils and lubricants being removed prior to demolition.

The demolition of STS Crane E-GG-03 is thought to be only the second time that a controlled collapse method has been used within Chile, and on both occasions executed by O’Brien Specialist Crane Services.

The O’Brien SCS works on this project were complete ahead of schedule, on budget and without any health, safety, or environmental incidents causing almost zero disruption to terminal operations to the absolute delight of all Stakeholders.

The O’Brien SCS team carried out all aspects of this demolition project in-house including;
• Initial site survey, feasibility study & calculations,
• Assessment of QC structural integrity,
• Provision of a ground load/impact study,
• Provision of risk analysis,
• Implementation of environmental control measures,
• Design of unique pre weakening operation,
• Design & installation of quay deck protection,
• Design & installation of all temporary works,
• Planning, supervision and execution of all works,