Keeping Ships Unloading During a Quay Renovation: A Mobile Bypass Solution
When a fixed ship unloader becomes unusable, a mobile ship unloading solution can keep cargo moving without delay. That’s exactly the challenge Van Trier solved for a client whose quay was undergoing renovation.
The Challenge: A Fixed Ship Unloader Taken Out of Service
The client’s terminal relies on a fixed ship unloader to discharge bulk cargo, such as grain, from inland vessels. When renovation work began on the quay, this unloader sat directly within the construction zone and could no longer be used.
This created an urgent logistical problem: ships still needed to unload on schedule, but the primary unloading point was temporarily out of reach. Without a working alternative, the client risked delays, demurrage costs, and disruption to their supply chain — all while the quay renovation was underway.
This is a common challenge in ports and inland shipping terminals: how do you keep cargo moving when your main unloading infrastructure is temporarily unavailable?
The Solution: A Mobile Bypass Built for the Job
Van Trier designed and deployed a temporary, mobile unloading bypass to replace the fixed unloader for the duration of the renovation. The setup combined three types of equipment, working together as a single unloading chain:
- 1x mobile hopper – received bulk material (grain) directly from the ship’s crane grab, acting as the intake point for the entire system.
- 8x link conveyors (doorvoerbanden) – transported the material across the extended distance from the quay to the storage area, effectively bridging the gap created by the unloader being out of service.
- 1x store loader – distributed the material efficiently into the storage facility at the end of the conveyor line.
Because every component in this setup is mobile and modular, the entire bypass could be installed at a different location along the quay — further from the original unloading point — without requiring permanent infrastructure changes.
Our Mobile Ship Unloading Solution: How It Works
Ships continued to dock and unload as normal, with a mobile crane feeding bulk material into the hopper. From there, the chain of eight link conveyors carried the material along the quay, over the extra distance created by relocating the unloading point. The store loader then handled distribution into storage, completing the process end-to-end.
This meant the renovation work could proceed independently, with zero impact on the unloading schedule.
The Result: No Delays, and Increased Capacity
The mobile bypass didn’t just keep operations running — it matched, and at points exceeded, the throughput of the original fixed unloader. Ships continued to unload without delay, and the client avoided any disruption to their logistics chain during the renovation period.
Why This Matters for Ports and Terminals
This project is a practical example of a broader challenge many ports, terminals, and bulk handling operations face: what happens when fixed unloading infrastructure is temporarily unavailable, whether due to renovation, maintenance, or unexpected downtime?
A modular, mobile equipment setup — combining a hopper, link conveyors, and a store loader — offers a flexible way to maintain unloading capacity without waiting for permanent infrastructure to be restored. If your terminal is facing a similar situation, this type of temporary bypass solution can keep cargo moving while renovation or repair work continues.
Ready to get in touch?
If your operation is facing a similar challenge — a fixed unloader out of service, a quay under renovation, or simply a need for extra unloading capacity — contact Van Trier to discuss a tailored mobile solution.
