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New ship loader boosts throughput, officials say
Summary
Port staff reported the new ship loader is now in service and said loading rates have increased from about 300 tons per hour to roughly 1,500–1,800 tph, which staff expect will lower payroll and chartering costs and improve cargo turn times.
Port operations staff told the Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District board that a newly installed ship loader is now in service and has materially increased loading throughput.
Operations representative Todd (speaker 6) reported recent cargo handling figures, said the new ship loader is in service and that the terminal has started using it for loading. Staff contrasted prior typical loading rates of about 300 tons per hour with observed practical rates near 1,500–1,800 tons per hour since the new loader was installed; Todd noted the ship’s rated maximum is 3,200 tph but that the port does not routinely operate at that peak because of cargo handling constraints. "You're talking about loading 5 times faster than what we've been doing for the last 4 years," Mr. Self said, describing anticipated cost savings.
Staff said faster turn times should reduce chartering, dockage and payroll costs, and that the ship loader arrival helped offset temporary downtime caused by Hurricane Laura. Officials also reported mobile harbor crane usage since the storm and that FEMA funds are being used to replace permanent equipment where applicable. The board thanked staff for the update; no formal action was recorded for this report.
