Coal: Port Operations Modelling

Our client operates the world's largest and most efficient coal handling facility. We have assisted them by modelling their Coal Terminal and in evaluating alternative expansion options.

Coal received at the terminal is delivered by train to rail receival facilities, and is transported via a series of conveyors to stacking machines which discharge the material onto stockpile pads.

The coal is assembled in vessel cargo lots and retrieved from the stockpiles by bucket wheel reclaimers. It is then carried on a dedicated system of conveyors to a series of shiploaders which load the coal directly into the holds of designated vessels.

Besides the initial new stockpile and stacking stream, we evaluated further expansion steps beyond this using a separate Stand-Alone model.

These options included process improvements, equipment upgrades, pad and conveyor extensions, and added dump sheds, stackers, reclaimers, shiploaders and berths.

Sensitivity analyses were undertaken to determine the impacts of various parameters on the model and to identify potential risk areas which could have a negative impact on the Terminal throughput capacity.

In similar industries, we have modeled a range of port operations; berthing and draft capacities, demurrage, tug utilization, ship scheduling, storage capacities and ship sizing impacts on system capability.