Telestack solution boosts efficiency for Bristol Port
New integrated three-unit mobile ship-loading system capable of handling up to 1,000 tonnes/h
WHEN Bristol Port, a significant player in the UK’s maritime infrastructure, needed to enhance its quayside operations for loading aggregates and fines on to coaster vessels, the port aimed to increase vessel turnaround speed, reduce operational costs, and minimize reliance on wheel loaders.
To this end, Telestack supplied an integrated, three-unit mobile system comprising an HF 12 hopper feeder, a TL 18 link conveyor, and a TB 42 radial-telescopic shiploader. The system provides a direct, continuous path for material from the initial feed point on the quayside to the vessel, consistently achieving average loading rates of 800 tonnes/h and with the capability to handle peaks of 1,000 tonnes/h.
This high-capacity transfer process has significantly boosted production and reduced vessel turnaround times, and substantially reduced the need for wheel loaders, which has directly lowered operational costs. In particular, the TB 42’s radial and telescopic functions allow for precise vessel trimming from a single feed position, thereby enhancing efficiency.
The three-unit system incorporates an overband magnet to remove tramp metal as well as extensive dust-suppression measures, including dust covers on all conveyors, spray bars, and a rubber sock chute to ensure clean loading.
According to Bristol Port, the reduction in mobile plant traffic on the quayside contributes to a safer and more organized working environment, whilst the inherent mobility of each unit provides the flexibility to adapt the setup for different materials or berth configurations.
