The Port of Bristol in the UK is installing Navtech N100-AC anti-collision system on a second quay crane, following a successful 12-month trial on a first crane.
The Navtech anti-collision system uses a millimetre wave radar sensor developed by Navtech for port automation applications. The high-resolution radar, mounted on the underside of the boom, identifies obstructions in the path of the moving crane boom, such as antenna stacks. The radar sensor takes measurements through a 360-degree arc from 2m to 100m.
If the crane gets too close to the ship, or if the ship drift towards the crane, an alarm tells the control system to slow the crane. If the crane keeps moving towards the obstacle, the control system is alerted to stop short of the obstacle. The radar cancels the alarm once it detects that the crane is travelling away from the obstacle.
Navtech claims that using a high frequency makes its system more accurate and reliable than traditional lower frequency radars.
Navtech sensors are also used on the automated Kalmar straddle carriers at the Fisherman’s Island container terminal in Brisbane, Australia.
