Wharves’ Mooring, Lifting Chains Certified to International Standard

For the first time Suva’s Queen’s and Lautoka’s King’s wharves will have their chains, lifting and mooring equipment tested and certified according to international standard.
Fiji Ports Terminal Limited (FPTL) operations manager Nabeel Ali was part of the team that went through the familiarization process at the Suva Port on Monday conducted by New Zealand’s wire rope, lifting, marine, and services company Cookes.
“In the past, chains, lifting and mooring equipment were not physically tested through a test bed and Cookes has included that in this new partnership,” Mr Ali said.
“This is a three year term agreement between FPTL and Cookes which they will conduct all the testing and inspection services at the ports on an annual basis,” he said.
“Following inspection and tests, they will certify all lifting equipment to international standard as safe for operation.
“Cookes is part of the largest wire rope manufacturing and supply company in the world for lifting and mooring equipment used for vessel and operation activities.
“Fiji does not have a test bed for test gears; through this partnership there will be certification to show that these machines, gears, and equipment have been tested and safe for operation.
Cookes product specialist for lifting equipment, Ganeshwar Naidu (Nash) said they have provided such services for over 100 years in New Zealand and have more than 30 technicians to carry out these tasks.
According to Mr Naidu in maintaining their international standards they have also aligned their activities to LEEA (Lifting Equipment Engineers Associat ion – UK) and LEENZ (Lifting Equipment Engineers – New Zealand).
UPGRADING OF PORTS
“These lifting gears are not up to the expectation of port users, through this partnership Fiji ports will be upgraded to international standards,” he said.
The international standard ensures safety at all ports when goods are handled whether it is loading onto a vessel or offloading from a vessel.
“Fiji Ports has had the equipment in use for many years and they are unsure if the equipment are safe to use what Cookes is doing is proof loading the lifting equipment in specialized test bed in the container. Ports equipment has work limit of 12 tonnes in a set of lifting equipment,” he said.
“Our machine – test bed, has a capacity of 40 tonnes, we can do a proof test load twice the rated limit.
“Once the lifting equipment has passed the test bed, measurement, and visual inspection, we tag the lifting equipment, all the details of the equipment are logged into the cloud-based recording system,
“This is to allow FPTL, its customers or any other authority see that the equipment was tested on the mentioned date, tonnage recorded, capacity measured and certified” he said.
“Fiji Ports is an international entity with their customers working in an international recognised environment, high level of safety for all concerned including the public is priority that is why we are ensuring that all lifting and mooring equipment are safe to use.
“Cookes have also just signed a contract with Energy Fiji Limited to supply Height Safety equipment such as harnesses, pole straps, and associated equipment.”
BASIC TRAINING
Mr Naidu and his team will also be conducting basic training on Height Safety equipment for EFL; how to use, fit and look after harnesses.
“Working with height every day is a risk, we are commitment in supplying safe equipment working in high risk industries.”
Cookes services assistant manager, Rod McDonald is part of the team overseeing the testing of lifting equipment and will also provide training and auditing to ensure that work is in accordance to international and New Zealand regulations.
Senior field services technician, Andy Atkinson is working with Mr McDonald to inspect lifting equipment and safety.
“Some of the common defects are worn chains, bent links and difficulty in identifying defective and or unsafe equipment,” Mr McDonald said.