EMD locomotive shortly before offload failure at destination port
An EMD GT46C-ACe locomotive was dropped during offloading at the destination port in west Africa. It's hard to tell from the video where the actual failure occurred. The locomotive obviously suffered extensive damage as did the dock itself as a result of the impact. This locomotive was one of six in the shipment, a photo of the new locomotive can be seen here.
So many heavy lifts are completed without incident that it is sometimes worth seeing the failures as a reminder of the necessity of very careful inspections of all cranes and rigging as well as adherence to the capacities of each component.
Video below: [click to continue…]
Port of Portland
The Port of Portland is facing a potential strike by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union on November 25th. Negotiations with the union handling grain operations at six terminals and with security officers are creating a "perfect storm" of labor disruption.
Officials are concerned cargo ships will begin bypassing the port in anticipation of the strike.
The simultaneous actions are the most extreme developments in months of labor turmoil at the Port, where yet another dispute involving the same union led ships to bypass Portland last summer, clogging cargo and slowing Oregon's economy. Closure of the three Port terminals, let alone a crisis at the grain elevators, would wreak far greater economic havoc and could cause container shipping lines to pull out for good.
UPDATE: The strike was averted by last minute negotiations assuring the union that security guards could continue in their current positions.
Link: The Columbian
Link: Port of Portland
Maersk Triple E 18000 teu container ship
Maersk has ordered a total of twenty brand new Triple E container ships from Korea’s Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co., Ltd. and, when launched, they will be the largest ships in the world. With a capacity of 18000 TEU (twenty foot equivalent) containers on a ship 400 meters long and 59 meters wide these ships will take maximum advantage of economies of scale. It would take a train over 68 miles long to carry an equivalent load.
Maersk Triple E 18000 teu container ship
The ships are set to run the Asia-Europe trade route and will sail from Shanghai to Spain in 20 days. The ships will actually sail at a lower speed reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. The super long stroke engine also uses a heat recovery system for increased efficiency.
The ship is designed from day one to be recyclable and comes with a "Cradle to Cradle Passport" listing all materials used, where they can be found and how to properly disassemble them for recycling or disposal.
These ships are almost unbelievably huge but you can most likely expect even larger ships in the future. There is a website dedicated to the building of this ship and contains details and updates of its progress. Well worth a visit.
Link: WorldsLargestShip
