APM Terminals Bahrain, operators of Khalifa bin Salman Port (KBSP), has improved its safety performance and information technology systems, including the successful completion of a load collision prevention system (LCPS) pilot project scheduled to be implemented throughout the APM Terminals Global Terminal Network
APM Terminals Bahrain managing director Mark Hardiman said, “Our HSSE, Terminal Asset Management and IT teams have all been working closely together on the recent safety initiatives that APM Terminals is implementing globally.”
APM Terminals Bahrain was selected as the first terminal to introduce and live-test the LCPS, following two years of research, engineering and initial testing by APM Terminals to reduce the risk of accidents due to collisions in the container yard between container handling equipment and stacked containers.
Technical innovations and procedural changes were put into place on KBSP’s rubber-tire gantry cranes (RTGs) and reach stackers (RS). The investments made in collision avoidance and distance detection systems included installation of state-of-the-art cameras on all of the RTGs to remove blind spots faced by the operators and enhanced night vision features. The success of the programme – Project Stack – has led to plans to introduce the new equipment and procedures at other APM Terminals facilities next year, as the improved safety features are rolled out globally.
Equally important, APM Terminals Bahrain’s equipment maintenance and repair (EMR) department is implementing a total productive maintenance programme, designed to maximise equipment reliability and performance.
Operators and maintenance teams were trained in new skill sets to reach the goal of reducing equipment breakdowns by 90 per cent in three years. KBSP is now in the final phase of TPM Club of India Certification.
APM Terminals Bahrain’s IT department has also completed the successful implementation of a differential global positioning system on terminal RTGs. The system ensures that container positions are updated automatically, eliminating the possibility of human error and creating a safer working environment. Reduced handling times will yield higher productivity.
Other significant advances include the establishment of internet access points at the terminal storage buildings, enabling enhanced data coverage and analytics. Working closely with the existing terminal operating system (TOS), covering gate transactions and the container yard, the IT department is upgrading the system to include verified gross mass (VGM) capability to help customers comply with the recent IMO amendment to safety of life at sea (SOLAS) requirements.
A new general cargo terminal operation system with VGM functionality will reduce paperwork and make it easier for customers to see cargo activities through a more customer-friendly interface. The system also enables APM Terminals Bahrain to achieve more sophisticated statistical analysis essential to financial and commercial goals and resource deployment.
“Our goal is to ensure we have safe operations. These initiatives create a safe place to work for our employees, contractors and the external truck drivers visiting the terminal,” added Hardiman.
