Sweden’s Port of Gothenburg has implemented a new digital system to improve the operation of its pumping administration system, which conducts pumping between its terminals and refineries.
The system is designed to ensure the terminals receive rapid, concise notification about the timing of pumping, and the exact cost of pumping on completion.
It is expected to save both time and money for the port, which receives 2,500 tankers annually and handles crude oil, petrol, diesel, as well as other energy products.
With the new system, the port also aims to handle increased volumes of cargo, which has resulted in a higher level of quay space utilisation and requiring the vessels to turn around more quickly than earlier.
The port still needs to follow the existing safety requirements while handling larger volumes.
Gothenburg Port Authority production development engineer Jörgen Wrennfors said: “We are striving continuously to eliminate bottlenecks and the project involves building up an automation platform.
“This is a long-term project and a vital part of our ambition to enhance efficiency even further.”
The port’s previous pumping administration system was handled by an older arrangement with a large number of manual components.
The new automated solution is equipped with the latest process control systems to allow both the port and the pumping operator to monitor statistics directly and see the exact cost of hiring the facility.
It also books in customers based on the date and time of pumping, along with the location and type of product.
The application enhances quality and safety, while it makes the entire procedure more flexible.
The pipeline supervisors will receive all the information they require through computer tablets, each of which is linked to a GPS system to confirm the presence of the pipeline supervisor.
The system has also freed up 2.2% additional production capacity in the pipeline system.
