A new grapple loading system, entirely designed and constructed in New Zealand, is poised to deliver new levels of safety and provide greater flexibility with no requirement for specialised infrastructure.
In a significant shift away from the industry-norm of wire log slings, which can present safety and efficiency challenges, stevedoring and marshalling contractor C3 has developed the log vessel grapples (LVGs), which remove the need for wharf hands to sling loads, significantly reducing risks.
After a series of extensive trials and roll-outs in a handful of other New Zealand ports, the LGVs were deployed in Port Chalmers in early April to load the African Weaver.
Eventually the LGVs will be paired with an auto-log-tallying system, which will remove almost all of the manual shipside operations. In the meantime, the LGVs are already providing glimpses of the safety and efficiency gains they promise to deliver.
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