Syncrolift operating at full capacity once again

Otis Finck The Namibian Ports Authority (Namport) officially re-opened the Walvis Bay Syncrolift facility on Wednesday. Namport port engineer Elzevir Gelderbloem said the Syncrolift, which had been operating below capacity for two years since an incident on 31 May 2015, was fully restored at a cost of N$10 million and could once again operate at its designed full lifting capacity of 2 000 tons. A cable of one of the lift platform's winch motors snapped and a main beam collapsed during the lifting of a fishing vessel, the Paraclete, out of the water. This caused considerable damage to two main beams and a grillage section. Kraatz Marine and several other local companies under Namport's supervision and instruction commenced and conducted stabilisation and emergency repairs of the platform immediately after the incident. The Syncrolift was put back in operation after two weeks in June 2014 at a reduced capacity, with two of the main beams being out of service. Apart from ongoing repairs to the facility, this was also the first time that the side transfer system was dismantled and refurbished. This first major shutdown and repairs in the history of the Syncrolift, which includes a platform and side transfer, included the replacement of all wheels and old deck wood, alignment of steel cables, sandblasting and repainting of steel work. The Syncrolift was built in 1972 and commissioned in 1973 for commercial use.Red tapeGelderbloem gave the assurance that the tedious process was not due to a lack of urgency but ascribed it to red tape.“Namport has full appreciation for the importance of the Syncrolift for the industry, the community of Walvis Bay and the country at large. We will not allow the facility to be closed down or fall into disrepair and will continue to maintain and repair it whenever the need arises. The money we spent annually over the last few years on concrete rehabilitation and the steel repairs run into millions every year.” He explained that Namport notified the insurer in May 2014. An investigation into the scope of the permanent repairs commenced in-house in June 2014. An assessor, G. Stobbs, arrived from London on 20 August 2014 and assessed the claim. A consultant, Keith Mackie, was appointed to assists with the drawing up of full specifications for permanent repairs which included replacement of the damaged structural steel sections. Tender documents were completed and submitted for approval on 6 June 2015. Tender 007/2015 was issued on 8 June 2015 and closed on 13 July 2015. After realising that all submitted tenders were disqualified for not complying with Namport's procurement policy, the insurance company was requested to take over the tender and award it to whom they saw fit. The insurance company eventually rejected Namport's request and indicated that the port authority should follow its own policies and procedures on 30 November 2015.The tender was eventually awarded to Kraatz Marine on 15 November 2016 and the contract commenced on 30 November 2016 with the expected date of completion set for 5 May 2017. ScopeThe scope of the repairs project of the Syncrolift platform involved the fabrication and replacement of one main 16.5 ton beam and one new 22 ton grillage section. Thirty workers (20 from Kraatz and 10 from Raylin) were involved in the fabrication process which took two months, and 40 workers were involved in the installation process that was completed within three weeks. The various phases were completed within four weeks. 40 onsite workers in two shifts from Kraatz Marine and 10 from Raylin in the workshops were involved.This was the third time that the same Namport and Kraatz Marine teams worked on a major Syncrolift rehabilitation project.

Syncrolift operating at full capacity once again

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Syncrolift operating at full capacity once again

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