The UK-based port mobile plant specialist B&W Mechanical Handling Ltd has won an order for two of its ‘top of the range’ mobile ship-loader systems from North African consortium Sorfert Algeria for deployment in the Port of Arzew.

The purchase is part of a much bigger $2 billion investment in a new 1.2 million tons per annum ammonia and granulated urea fertilizer plant that Sorfert Algeria is building in the Arzew industrial zone. A second ammonia plant with a capacity of 800,000 tons per annum is also being built. Once complete, the plants will account for one of the largest volumes of fertilizer exports to the Mediterranean.

The Arzew industrial zone is situated near three major Algerian ports on the Mediterranean coast. The first plant is due to become operational at the end of 2010, with the second ammonia plant coming on-stream some six months later.

Sorfert Algeria is a joint venture between Orascom Construction Industries (OCI) and the Algerian state-owned oil and gas company Sonatrach.

B&W enjoys the benefits of being fully integrated into the substantial and respected International Aumund Group with strategically placed offices in more than 10 countries and representatives in more than 40.

B&W will supply two ship-loader systems each comprising a mobile ship-loader with twin Samson feeders to load urea prills at between 500 and 700 tn/hr into vessels at two separate berths. Vessel sizes will range from 10,000 to 25,000DWT.

A winning factor was B&W’s unique solution to a particular loading problem presented by the customer. In the initial phase of deployment the larger vessels will not be able to come alongside normally due to the shallowness of the berth. Rather they will have to stand off the quay by some 13.5 m.

B&W’s design has incorporated a unique 5-m removable boom extension that will enable normal loading to take place from the outset whilst dredging to deepen the berth takes place. This flexible approach, together with B&W’s reputation and strong presence in the region, helped secure the order. A previous order for a B&W 40-m ship-loader to Orascom in the Port of El Sokhna in Egypt some years ago had demonstrated the company’s track record for quality equipment and reliability. B&W has also supplied two large, Samson-fed, mobile ship-loaders in 2008 to APM terminals in Bahrain for handling sulfur prills.

The installation is due for delivery in May 2010 and should be commissioned by July 2010. For more information, visit www.bwmech.co.uk.