Two sets of ShoreTension™ units specifically designed for Port Taranaki were installed last week and the Port has already benefitted from them.

ShoreTension™ uses hydraulic rams, high strength lines to secure ships to moorings. The technology is designed to stop ships from breaking mooring during swells caused by long period waves. In the past, to avoid damage, ships have had to leave the port during long period waves, costing time and money.

The $4 million investment began with the installation of a set on each of the Moturoa and Blyde wharves in May last year (each set contains two units). Completing the work, two further sets have now been placed on the Newton King Tanker Terminal and have been manufactured specifically for the hazardous area in which they will be operating.

“Because the NKTT is where all our oil and gas customers operate, it is critically important that all equipment is safe and without an ignition risk,” says Port Taranaki Chief Executive Guy Roper.

Therefore, the new units are intrinsically safe, which means they have been designed and certified so that electricity is limited to a level below what would be required to ignite gases should a fault or spark occur. The electrical components are held within a secure control box on the top of the units.

Mr Roper says Port Taranaki was thrilled with the results from the first two sets of ShoreTension™ units and is confident that the Port and its customers will benefit from the investment in the additional units.

“We have already benefited from the new units.  The Matuku, on her maiden voyage to the Port, was able to remain tied up at Newtown King Tanker Terminal over the recent long period wave event. We were able to provide greater certainty for our customer and had no need to exclude the vessel.”

“With the addition of these units, we target exclusions to come down to less than 1% of the time,” Mr Roper says.

The units were developed and built in Rotterdam.  All ships that berth at NKTT will have ShoreTension™ applied.