THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN

AND

JOURNAL OF THE COAL AND IRON TRADES.

Vol. CVIII.

FRIDAY. OCTOBER 23, 1914.

No. 2808.

ROTTERDAM AS A COAL PORT.

F. J. WARDEN=STEVENS, M.I.M.E., A.M.I.E.E.*

By

Rotterdam is of somewhat special interest just now,
on account of the part it takes, or has taken, in the
export of German coal by way of the Rhine-^—millions
of tons a year being received there from the Westphalian
coalfields for distribution—in fact, it has been a “ clear-
ing ” port for German coal. The coal is conveyed by
great barges, having a capacity of up to 3,600 tons,
which draw only about 9 ft. of water as a maximum.
These are loaded either at the coal shipping ports on
the Rhine, or direct at those collieries which have a
frontage to the canals connecting with the river.

The port of Rotterdam is particularly a water port for
transhipment, and as regards facilities for discharging
and bunkering of coal no doubt is the most advanced
port in Europe from the point of view of floating
mechanical equipments, the greater portion of the coal
received being transhipped afloat and not landed. The
equipments include not only floating grab cranes, but
special craft with conveyors and elevators. It is not to
be presumed, however, that shore discharging, storage,
and loading equipments for coal are insignificant,
because there are several coal hoists available for dis-
charging railborne coal, as well as a special equipment
of transporters used particularly for coal and iron ore,
which is received on shore for storage and reloaded.

It will be of interest briefly to describe some of the
special coaling equipments available at Rotterdam. The
transporters last mentioned—of which there are eight—
are capable of dealing with loads of 8-10 tons', each con-
sists of a bridge track, at a height of about 50 ft., which
has a span of 156 ft. back from the quay over the storage
ground, and a hinged extension projecting beyond the
quay a distance of 132 ft. A hoisting trolley is under-
slung from the bridge track, on which it travels, and is
provided with a revolving jib having a radius of 24 ft.,
thus a large area can be covered for discharging or load-
ing, and a high output is obtainable—working with a
grab.

The .writer recently had occasion to inspect the float-
ing coaling craft at Rotterdam in order to report thereon,
and it may here be opportune to give some extracts,
from that report. The following description relates to
a craft for bunkering at the rate of up to 200 tons per
hour:—■

The hold, with a capacity of 800 tons, is so constructed
that the coal is automatically trimmed towards the
centre lengthwise to feed an endless conveyor. This
conveyor is provided in a tunnel constructed along the
centre of the craft, fore and aft, and at the bottom of the
hold, delivery of the coal on to the conveyor being
effected by vertical sliding doors, at each side of the
tunnel, actuated by lever rod and rack. The driving
drum of the conveyor is fixed aft, and the conveyor is
guided horizontally from the driving drum right along
the lower part of the tunnel, but rises at an inclination,
in a casing, and is supported by a steel framework at
the fore part of the craft, whereby the coal is elevated
to a height of 65 ft. above water level (loaded), and is
discharged by an adjustable chute over the bows. An
automatic weighing machine is situated at the fore end
of the tunnel over which the conveyor passes for regis-
tering the delivery of the coal.

Two steam winches, situated on the fore deck, actuate
a light revolving crane fixed on the top of the inclined
gantry structure, the object of this crane being to sup-
port and adjust the position of the discharge chute,
which can be fixed in any position required at either side
of the craft, or direct over the bows, and at any angle,
also extended to reach across the deck of a vessel. The
craft is self-propelled by a pair of compound surface
condensing engines driving twin screws, the engines
developing together 250-horse power. These engines

* Author of “Coal Shipping Ports and their Equip-
ment,” etc.

are situated aft, and either one can be put into gear
with the driving drum of the conveyor—the power neces-
sary being less than that provided by one engine. The
chute having been fixed in the necessary position, either
for delivery to a side port or deck hatch, one of the
engines is started to drive the conveyor, the coal is then
released from the hold by one of the sliding doors. An
open plank floor is provided in the tunnel for the atten-
dant, who is able to note the discharge of the coal (on

• ■■ ■ *
£ •',? ill

Fig. 1.—Coal Discharging and Loading Transporters at Rotterdam.

*

Fig. 2—Coal Bunkering Craft at Rotterdam.

to the conveyor) and to adjust the doors accordingly.
The hold is provided with no less than 24 doors on each
side of the tunnel, so that the attendant can easily con-
trol the discharge and keep the craft on an even keel.

The staff and labour necessary for this bunkering
craft include the captain, two engineers, and a fireman,
conveyor attendant, two winchmen, bunker man (on
vessel) and boy; accommodation for the crew being pro-
vided on the craft forward.

Another type of floating equipment for discharging
large barges and transhipping direct into vessels
is in use at Rotterdam. This equipment is supported on
a pontoon and comprises a structure in the form of a

gantry, situated at the centre of the pontoon, which
supports an endless chain of buckets similar to a ladder
dredger. This is guided in a two-part hinged frame,
one part extending in an inclined or horizontal direction
from the gantry over the side of the pontoon, the other-
part being a continuation suspended vertically. The
horizontal part of the frame is capable of a radial vertical
movement from its shaft on the gantry, whilst the lower
end of the suspended portion can be slung outwards or
inwards, from or towards the pontoon to reach the coal.

A barge to be discharged is towed alongside the pon-
toon, the elevator frame is lowered on to the coal, and
the buckets being set in motion are filled by a dredging
action, the coal being first elevated in the suspended

part of the frame, and then conveyed in the channel of
the horizontal part, and discharged into a receiver or
hopper fixed on the pontoon. The coal then passes on
to a conveyor of a similar type to that of the bunkeii ig
craft previously referred to, and is delivered in a .I ke
manner into the bunkers of a vessel by chutes supported
over the fore part of the pontoon.

It is to be noted that compensating arrangemen.are
provided to balance the overhanging weight of the frame
and suspended elevator, and to keep the pontoon level:
also that the horizontal part of the frame can be raised
to a vertical position, bringing with it the suspended
part; thus, when not in use, or when towed, there is no