South Africa-based equipment supplier BLTWORLD has assisted in supplying four materials handling specialist SAMSON Eco-Hoppers to the Kenyan Port of Mombasa, in June this year.

Acquiring the hoppers is part of the Mombasa Resilient Infrastructure Programme (MRIP) initiative by the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), in conjunction with international trade and development organisation TradeMark East Africa, to create a modern regional hub to support growing trade in the area while protecting important natural resources.

The initiative will transform the port into a green facility, which is in line with new regulations from global maritime authorities.

Global maritime authorities have stated that shippers will be required to adopt new measures to address the negative impact operations have on the environment.

Implementing the MRIP has involved a substantial investment in new equipment, selected to improve the efficiencies of handling dry bulk, notes BLTWORLD MD Ken Mouritzen.

The hoppers are designed to handle the characteristics and flow properties of bulk materials, including cement clinker, coal and gypsum, and provide dust and spillage-free unloading through a dust control system that minimises the escape of dust during the grab-discharge cycle.

“SAMSON Eco-Hoppers was awarded the contract – with the support of BLTWORLD, in conjunction with investment company Artlantis Investments of Kenya to supply four Eco Hoppers,” he adds.

The recent delivery of the new SAMSON Eco-Hoppers, for the discharge of dry bulk materials at the Port of Mombasa, is set to significantly improve port facilities, and also minimise the environmental impact of bulk handling operations at the harbour.

Mouritzen says it can take between six and eight months to build and supply SAMSON Eco-Hoppers of this size. The hoppers were made to the requirements of the port and, for the first time, they carry ATEX EC directive certifications – which are the legal requirements for controlling explosive atmospheres and the suitability of equipment and protective systems used in them.

This important classification gives KPA the assurance that these ecological hoppers can be used safely in potentially explosive atmospheres.

To adhere to performance and environmental requirements, the SAMSON Eco-Hoppers are decked with inlet grills with suction capacity, a reverse-jet cleaning system, air compressors and a flex-flap filtration system. This creates a pressure differential between the inner and outer hopper areas and dust filters on three sides of the hopper.

The fully mobile SAMSON Eco-Hoppers can be manoeuvred off the quay, freeing up space when they are not in use. Powered travel and crabbing functionality allows for easy positioning alongside a vessel during unloading and can be controlled using a remote pendant.

A team of engineers is currently working on commissioning the SAMSON Eco-Hoppers and a comprehensive operator training programme is in place for the KPA.

BLTWORLD’s SAMSON range of bulk handling equipment includes link conveyors, grab hoppers, surface feeders, radial boom stackers and mobile shiploaders, conveyors and wagon tipplers, heavy-duty apron feeders, silo and hopper discharge systems and inclined bucket conveyors.

“BLTWORLD offers a technical advisory, parts and maintenance support service in Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands,” concludes Mouritzen.