New "Phoenix" for Port of Ust Kut

The excavation of diamonds in Yakutiya started more than fifty years ago. Since then, this area feels a continuous need for various mining machinery, vehicles, fuel and construction materials. The river Lena happened to be the primary traffic artery for delivery of this cargo as well as others. Just due to that, different production objects, towns, roads and hydroelectric power stations are being built.

This river transport artery is a major thing for the company ALROSA (Stands for "Diamonds of Russia - Saha") occupied into precious stones excavation. The company owns about twenty ships of various purposes that carry more than a hundred thousand tones of cargo per year. The Port of Ust Kut plays a vital role in this transport system. Recently Alrosa started new developments in its sector of the port.

The key element in modernization will be an arm-retractile crane "Phoenix" mounted onto the portal with lifting capacity of 50t fabricated by Russian crane builder from Kaliningrad BALTKRAN (in close cooperation with Kranbau Eberswalde). This Russian company has an extensive experience in producing and servicing of lifting equipment operating in Siberia and Far North. The crane structure is designed for operation in low temperatures (up to -40C). All structures and mechanical parts are made of high quality steel both Russian and foreign origin. The units and accessories were delivered from reputable European OEMs; special paint system is applied as well. Drives, brake thrusters, terminal boxes and slip rings are equipped with built-in heaters to avoid condensation; heating is applied also in idle condition of the crane. The heaters are mounted into the cubicles with panels.

Comprehensive economic and reliable slew units are mounted inside enclosed machinery house that prevents them of precipitation and moisture. The slew gear is fitted with a centralized greasing system with pump. Motorized cable reel is designed without the suspended movable counterweight. The crane possesses stepless lifting capacity adjustment from 32 to 50 tones.

The crane is equipped with control system with frequency inverters that provide smooth movement of the loads and decrease of dynamical forces onto steel structures. Sophisticated diagnostics system with a touch screen fitted in the cabin can inform the operator about the type and place of a failure. This information can be passed onto long distances via a modem, this considerably reduces downtime of the crane during service and maintenance. The operator's cab provides a clear vision of the working area and the micro climatic system makes the work in the conditions of the Far North comfortable. This crane is very easy to transport and erect.

For the last two years Baltkran has produced four similar cranes with lifting capacity of 32 to 50t. One of them provides reliable operation in the Commercial Sea Port of Kaliningrad. This crane allowed significant increase in the cargo volume and handle heavier loads.