Pilbara Port

Anti-collision warnings, in all weather and light conditions

The SafeGuard anti-collision systems are installed on heavy-duty conveyor belt loaders, each capable of swinging through 180° to speed the loading process up by turning immediately from a fully-loaded ship on one side of the quay to the next empty ship at the other side.

As the high-resolution radars scan 360° when analysing their environment, if the loader gets too close to objects, it raises an awareness alarm, informing the operator to potential problems. Working remotely near the very end of the boom, and close to the ship, the operator’s vantage point enables them to distribute the cargo evenly and precisely, a skilful and demanding job. Navtech Radar’s sensors aid the operators’ job as the radar can accurately scan the area the loader is operating in and easily identify potential collision risks, regardless of the visibility conditions at the time.

Navtech’s sensors are integrated with the user interface where a CITEC solution provides the operator with all the machine controls, alarms and warnings. If an object is detected being too close on the left-hand side, all leftward movement of the loader is disallowed, pre-programmed by the PLC interface. Likewise, if the ship rises too much compared to the loading angle, the operator is warned and can adjust by moving the loader upwards. Loading the ships is a continuous process that must be replicated and completed with accuracy and speed. Navtech Radar’s sensors ensure the machine operates continuously, with minimal risk of disruption and the associated financial implications.