Associated British Ports (ABP) has invested GB£150,000 in specialist cargo-handling equipment at the Port of King’s Lynn. ABP has introduced two new vacuum lifting attachments designed specifically for pipe operations. The equipment, supplied by B&B Attachments, a specialist manufacturer in the north of England, is intended to improve operational safety while increasing the efficiency of breakbulk handling at the Norfolk port.
The new attachments entered service this month (June). They were used to discharge imported water pipes ordered for a number of UK infrastructure projects. ABP said the new equipment allows faster loading and unloading, improves load placement accuracy and reduces vessel turnaround times, reinforcing King’s Lynn’s role as a gateway for critical infrastructure cargoes and regional supply chains.
Reduced handling risks
The vacuum lifting attachments use advanced suction technology to securely grip pipe surfaces during lifting operations. The equipment reduces the need for manual handling, says ABP. They state that vacuum lifting enables loads to be positioned with greater control, lowering the risks associated with conventional pipe handling and reducing the requirement for personnel to work in proximity to suspended loads.
“Safety underpins everything we do at ABP,” said Paul Ager, Divisional Port Manager. “It is central to how we invest and operate our ports. This investment reflects our focus on targeted investment in specialist equipment across ABP, and here at the Port of King’s Lynn. These new vacuum lifting attachments improve how we handle pipe cargo, reducing risk for our teams while increasing efficiency on the quayside.”
Radio-controlled
The handling process utilises two vacuum lifting systems. “A 25,000kg capacity crane, fitted with a vacuum lifter, is used to safely discharge the water pipes from the vessel onto a shunter wagon,” said a statement from B&B Attachments. “The shunter then transports the pipes along the dock to a storage yard, where a second vacuum lifting system, mounted on a 42,000kg reachstacker, offloads and stacks the pipes ready for onward transportation.”
Both vacuum lifting systems are capable of handling up to three 14-metre-long pipes in a single lift, with a nominal lifting capacity of approximately 10,000kg. The units feature radio-controlled individual vacuum pad isolation, interchangeable battery packs and interchangeable vacuum pads to accommodate the two pipe diameters being handled at the port.
Supporting infrastructure cargoes
ABP completed its first operation using the new equipment on 13 June, handling an import shipment of water pipes intended for national infrastructure upgrades. King’s Lynn occupies a distinctive position within the UK’s ports sector. The port serves as Norfolk’s principal commercial seaport and provides an alternative gateway to the larger East Coast ports for bulk cargo shippers.
Its location close to East Anglia’s major agricultural production areas offers customers shorter inland transport distances, while specialist storage, testing and handling facilities support a wide range of agribulk commodities. The port is also able to accommodate smaller consignments that may not be commercially viable through larger deep-sea gateways, giving producers and traders additional flexibility within regional supply chains.
Bespoke cargo-handling solutions
“The vacuum lifting attachments lift and position the loads with greater control while reducing the need for personnel to work in proximity to suspended loads,” said Steve Egginton, Key Account Manager at B&B Attachments. “It is great to see them already in use on a project which contributes to essential UK infrastructure.”
ABP said the investment forms part of a wider programme of specialist equipment acquisitions across its port estate, including bespoke cargo-handling solutions such as magnets employed for steel operations at the Port of Newport in South Wales, where regeneration is also part of an upgrade to the facility.
Investment in a niche regional port
Although relatively small by UK standards, King’s Lynn occupies a specialised position in Britain’s port network. The port handles approximately 400,000t of cargo annually and receives around 190 vessel calls each year. Its trades include agricultural products, fertilisers, aggregates, timber, metals, recycling materials and project cargoes, serving customers across East Anglia and the eastern Midlands.
Independent assessments have characterised King’s Lynn as a resilient regional bulk port that has benefited from sustained investment in recent years. Recent improvements have included the development of the Hanse Bulk Terminal, upgrades to grain storage facilities and enhancements to specialist handling equipment. The port’s approximately 1,370m of quays and extensive bulk storage facilities have enabled it to develop a niche role handling bulk and breakbulk cargoes that benefit from efficient short supply chains rather than deep-sea container services.