Straddle Carriers, Port of Southampton
Hughes & Salvidge were appointed the role of Principal Contractor for felling of 9 straddle carriers within the Port of Southampton.
Outline Scope of Works
- Professional lead-in.
- Drain down and secondary checks to all straddles – into IBC’s provided by the Client
- Formation of crushed material lay-down area
- Preparation and pre-weakening works for each straddle carrier
- Felling of each straddle carrier
- Clear all arising materials
Drain Down and Removal of Oils
With guidance from the Clients engineers, Hughes and Salvidge drained all residual oils and fuels into IBCs, having prepared the working face by setting up spill kits and cleaning equipment, along with bunded IBCs. Our operatives used cold cutting techniques, alongside the permit to demolish as guidance, to cut all low points in the piperwork, and remove sump plugs where possible to drain the oils into the tanks.
Installation of the Lay-Down Area
The lay-down area was then installed by our ZX-300 excavator, using crushed materials from our Associated Division, K&B Crushers, also within the Port of Southampton. The material was layed in situ, levelled by the machine, before tyres were added to the crushed mat, sufficiently covering the area having considered felling methodology for the straddle carries.
Preperation Works to the Superstructure
Prior to moving the carriers into position for felling, the central lifting section was clipped down onto some tyres using our excavator and shear attachment, ahead of being processed and loaded away. The straddle carrier was then pushed into the preparation area by the ZX-300 and sat within felling distance of the lay-down area.
Operatives then used a MEWP to form a separation cut to the access ladder located on the side of the carrier. Once the bracing has been cut, the operatives then formed a hinge cut through 90% of the internal section of both rear legs approximately 2M below the upper cross member. The front legs were then cut in the same manner, 4M below the cab of the carrier.
Felling of the Superstructure
The ZX-300 offered its arm up to the structure located on the front facing column, and with all operatives and personnel clear of the lay-down are, the excavator was instructed by the Site Manager to gently push the structure in a controlled manner, allowing it to fall safely onto the lay-down area.
Once the structure was felled, the operatives utilised burning gear, with the aid of a machine fitted with a shear attachment, to process the steelwork and load it into metal recycling bins for disposal. The process was followed for all straddle carriers and once all dismantling works had been undertaken, and all arisings have been cleared, the machine loaded away the crushed material into tippers before the site was swept clean.
