China's new mega-project: Shanghai Yangshan deep-water port 上海洋山深水港 part 3/5

Summary

The Yangshan Deep Water Port project in Shanghai is a monumental feat of engineering. To create this massive port on the ocean floor, engineers use the Sea Dragon, a dredge that can rapidly pump and spray mud to build an artificial island. With cranes capable of handling over 50 containers per hour and advanced technology, the port must unload and reload thousands of containers in less than 20 hours. Despite the daunting challenges, including creating cranes tall enough to reach the largest ships, Yangshan's development demonstrates remarkable innovation and efficiency in global container shipping.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Yangshan Port project involves creating an artificial island 35 km offshore, in extremely challenging conditions, with no power or water available.
• 😀 Shanghai's container traffic is growing by 30% annually, requiring a massive expansion of port capacity.
• 😀 The Sea Dragon is a state-of-the-art mega dredge, designed to handle the enormous task of moving millions of cubic meters of soil to build Yangshan Port.
• 😀 The Sea Dragon's powerful turbocharged diesel engines allow it to pump over 12,000 cubic meters of mud in one hour.
• 😀 The Sea Dragon's hopper holds 12,888 cubic meters of mud, a symbolic number in China, equivalent to over 200,000 kegs of beer.
• 😀 The dredge's massive pumps remove water from the mud, making it easier to deliver the material needed for the port construction.
• 😀 Yangshan Port's first phase required moving 3,000 million cubic meters of mud—enough to fill over a million Olympic swimming pools.
• 😀 The project is expected to take a total of 13 billion cubic meters of mud to create a 10 square kilometer container port in the open ocean.
• 😀 The port's success is measured by how quickly it can unload and reload the world's largest container ships, such as the Gudan MK, in under 20 hours.
• 😀 The cranes at Yangshan Port are specially designed to handle the world’s largest containers, with a capacity to lift over 50 containers per hour, far surpassing the standard 30.

Q & A

What is the main challenge in building the Yangshan Port?

The main challenge in building the Yangshan Port is the inhospitable location, being 35 km offshore with no power or water supply. Additionally, the project requires the construction of a massive artificial island in the ocean, which involves dredging a large amount of soil from the sea.

How does the Sea Dragon contribute to the Yangshan Port construction?

The Sea Dragon, a mega dredge built in the Netherlands, is crucial for moving large amounts of mud from the sea to create the artificial island. It has two massive suction arms and is powered by two turbocharged diesel engines, which allow it to dredge and pump vast amounts of mud into the construction site quickly.

What is the capacity of the Sea Dragon's hopper, and why is it significant?

The Sea Dragon's hopper can hold 12,888 cubic meters of mud, equivalent to over 200,000 kegs of beer. This large capacity is significant because it allows the dredge to remove and transport large amounts of mud quickly, which is essential for building the port on time.

How does the Sea Dragon differ from other dredging ships?

Unlike other dredging ships that can only dump sand, the Sea Dragon can blow or spray the mud, which gives it a significant advantage in the construction process. This ability allows it to efficiently deposit material where needed, making it a key player in the port's construction.

What is the scale of the mud required for the construction of Yangshan Port?

The construction of Yangshan Port requires a total of 13 billion cubic meters of mud, enough to fill Loch Ness. This vast amount of material is needed to transform the open sea into a 10 square kilometer world-class container port.

What is the significance of the number 13 in the Yangshan Port project?

The number 13 is significant because it refers to the 13 giant container cranes at the port. These cranes are essential for unloading and loading the massive ships that dock at Yangshan, and they represent the cutting-edge technology used to handle large-scale operations.

How quickly does Yangshan Port need to unload and reload a massive ship like the Goodan MK?

Yangshan Port must unload 3,000 containers from the Goodan MK and reload it with 2,000 more in just 20 hours. This tight schedule is crucial because every hour behind schedule can result in thousands of dollars in losses.

What role do the STS S40 cranes play in the Yangshan Port operations?

The STS S40 cranes at Yangshan Port are critical in handling containers. Standing 50 meters high, they are capable of lifting more containers per hour than typical cranes. Their advanced design allows them to handle the largest ships, which is vital for maintaining the port's competitive edge.

How did Yangshan Port manage to design and build cranes large enough for the biggest ships?

To meet the needs of larger ships, Yangshan Port required cranes capable of lifting twice the number of containers than usual. The cranes were designed with a new structural design to reduce weight while maintaining functionality. Additionally, the cranes were engineered to lower their height during transport, making them suitable for shipping.

What is the role of the crane factory in the Yangshan Port project?

The crane factory, located near Yangshan at the Xenoa company, played a critical role in manufacturing the large cranes needed for the port. The factory is one of the biggest crane manufacturers in the world and provided the 13 cranes that enable Yangshan to operate efficiently and handle the world's largest container ships.