An idea from Lyttelton Port’s Lines Supervisors has led to a practical improvement at Cashin Quay 1, making the handling of ship lines safer and easier when vessels are berthed alongside the wharf.
Lines play an important role in safely securing vessels while they are in port. At Cashin Quay 1, this work can be more challenging when two vessels are berthed at the same time.
In some situations, ship lines need to be dropped onto the wharf and moved to the mooring bollards used to secure the vessel. Previously, this required the lines to follow a longer route where they could catch on handrails.
Direct route to bollards
The Lines Supervisors identified the issue and brought forward ideas to improve the way the work was carried out.
The result is a new bridge that provides a more direct route for the lines to reach the bollards, removing a point where they could catch and making the task safer and easier.
Head of Marine Operations Andrew van der Bent says the project shows the value of people working in operational areas identifying opportunities for improvement.
“The Lines Supervisors highlighted the challenges of ship line operations during dual berthing and helped identify opportunities to improve safety in this area. It’s great to see those ideas turned into a practical solution.”
Bridge safety improvement
The improvement was also supported and tracked by the Marine Health and Safety Committee as a high priority action.
Engineering Project Manager Paul Kelly says the bridge has been designed to improve safety while allowing other port operations to continue.
“The new bridge gives lines people a direct route to the bollards, removing a point where lines could catch, making the job safer. It also allows the ship loader to travel through when needed, with gates to keep people out of the operating area.”
The bridge was designed by WSP, fabricated by Hall Fabrication and installed by HEB.