Bill
Birchglen is taking its coal cargo to Belledune, New Brunswick. That port uses a continuous ship unloader system especially built for coal, and it works at a rate of 1750 tonnes per hour.
If you go to the Port of Belledune's website and go to facilities, and look under Terminal II you will see a photo of the unit.
It is essentailly a bucket wheel which scoops the coal out and places it on an enclosed conveyor system.
Some ports stock pile coal on the ground adjacent to the ship and use a simple clam bucket crane arrangement. However Belledune's pier is some distance from the power plant, and it is easier to send the coal by conveyor as a more or less one step operation.
Birchglen coal load
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Bill
Birchglen coal load
I'm new to this so please understand my question may seem odd for the veterans to this page. The picture gallery of 11-25-10 shows the Birchglen loading coal. How is coal unloaded from a ship of this type? Thanks in advance.