Page 24 - Sphere No.32 (Dec 2012)

22 Sphere 32
Going green
hPh’s commitment to using the latest technology to
improve its operations nicely dovetails with another one of
the group’s pursuits: running green operations. for example,
in the mid-90s, it was one of the first international port
operators to use rail mounted gantry cranes (rmgc),
giant highly-automated container handling cranes with
an auto-stacking capability, made possible by precise laser
guidance technology. rmgc cranes were also powered by
electricity, unlike more traditional cranes, such as rubber-
tyred gantry cranes (rtgc), which run on
traditional diesel.
rmgcs have the flexibility of either full or semi
automation similar to the situation in
europe container terminals in rotterdam
and Best. hPh uses remote control
booths, allowing the crane operators to
work in an office environment and control
several cranes at the same time from their
desk. this improves safety, efficiency and
working conditions. in hong Kong, the
company’s it specialists are currently
retro-fitting its existing fleet of rmgcs,
enabling it to take the operators out of the
crane cab and into the office as part of its
overall renovation of the cranes’ existing
automatic control system.
in regard to rtgcs, hPh has moved
steadily forward with technological innovations and
applications, striking a balance between operational needs
and mitigating the impact on the environment. the company
has also extensively deployed hybrid and electric rtgcs,
reducing its reliance on diesel fuel and its generation of
pollutants and particulate matter that are a by-product of
diesel use. innovative hybrid rtgc designs that use the
energy generated by the crane to charge an internal battery
have been developed and implemented at its ports, where
a complete replacement of all its traditional rtgcs with
hybrid and electric models is underway.
Security first
The group is also a pioneer in cargo security and actively
participates in numerous government-private sector
initiatives to ensure the safe and efficient movement of cargo
through its network of ports worldwide. it is continually
responding to emerging and ever-changing market needs.
hPh has established its own cargo security subsidiary
loadstar (refer to the sidebar story), and all of its ports
comply with the international ship and Port facility security
code, developed by the united nations after the september
11 attacks, a global framework that enhances the security of
ships and port facilities.
some of the hPh ports also work with local governments
with radiation detection and imaging
technology. in addition, hPh has long
worked with advanced technology system
developers to provide vital assistance in
the creation of important advancements
in the field of security. for example,
in august 2012, decision sciences
international corporation, an advanced
security and detection technology
provider, announced the deployment of its
first fully operational multi-mode Passive
detection system at freeport container
Port in the Bahamas. This comprises
a scanning device capable of locating
unshielded to heavily shielded nuclear
and radiological threats inside all types of cargo containers,
vehicles and rail cars without impeding the flow of commerce
and without generating harmful radiation.
securing the world’s global supply chain is vital. as John
meredith, hPh’s group managing director puts it, the
company has a longstanding commitment to port and cargo
security, and strives to make continuous improvements to
supply chain security and product integrity. to monitor
and ensure the highest security standards, hPh’s executive
committee is regularly updated on port security status from
the hPh security committee.
An RMGC at HIT. Inside the nGen Control Tower.
“nGen recorded
a 28.5 per cent
throughput
increase three
years after its
implmentation.”