Trelleborg’s marine systems operation has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Third Harbor Consultants Company (THCC), a subsidiary of the state-owned China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), in Shanghai, to enable improvements in Chinese ports.
The joint collaboration will see the co-authoring of mooring and infrastructure design whitepapers and provides the potential for the co-development of new marine technologies to support the evolution of China’s ports and vessels.
“Vessel sizes are becoming larger, competition is increasing and broader alliances between shipping lines are being established. These factors combine to put increased pressure on ports and terminals. Our industry is famously conservative, but change is coming quickly. There will be a need for more collaboration – as different stakeholders have different strengths. This will make partnerships throughout the supply chain and across industries critical,” says Richard Hepworth, President of Trelleborg’s marine systems operation.
Across a number of its upgrade projects THCC will also trial AutoMoor, Trelleborg’s rope-free, automated mooring system that uses smart technologies to enable faster berthing and improve safety levels within the port environment. This aims to enable theoretical and empirical studies of mooring analysis versus actual site performance.
Mr Shen Ming Da, Board Chairman of THCC, comments: “THCC is committed to the evolution of ports and terminals both domestically and internationally. Therefore the signing of the MoU with Trelleborg, which strives to facilitate port and terminal operational optimization, is a natural progression of our existing relationship. Bringing both organizations together allows us to capitalize on the best of both companies, to the benefit of facilities across China and beyond.”
