MITSUI ZOSEN DEVELOPS SHIP RECYCLING SYSTEM

A brief description is given of a "ship recycling system", recently developed by Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding, for facilitating the work in the breaking-up of ships for scrap. A rationalised system is needed for this work because of the number and size of the ships now being scrapped; with this Mitsui system, only about one-quarter of the man-hours normally required is needed. The system employs a scrapping-unit of the floating-dock type, together with a recycling barge. After removal of the ship's masts and some other fittings, the hull is hauled into the scrapping-unit, which is equipped with gas-cutting and conveying equipment. An operator carries out the cutting by remote control from a cabin on a special portal-crane on which the equipment is mounted; the cabin and the cutting-machine can be adjusted mechanically in position and direction, and the cut-away metal, in the form of small scrap, is removed by monorail cranes; no staging or floating cranes are required. The scrap is taken by conveyors to the recycling barge, where it is sorted and finally sheared and pressed. The article, which does not state whether the system is yet in operation, includes a diagram of the scrapping unit and a photograph of a model of the system (the model appears to have two operating-cabins). Features of the system include increased safety and, as oily waste can be collected in the scrapping unit, prevention of pollution.

• Corporate Authors:

  Tokyo News Service Limited

  10 Ginza Nishi, 8-chome, Chuo-ku
  Tokyo,   Japan 
• Publication Date: 1976-9

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos;
• Pagination: p. 34
• Serial:
  • Zosen
  • Volume: 21
  • Publisher: Tokyo News Service Limited

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Equipment replacement; Metal cutting; Ships; Shipyards
• Uncontrolled Terms: Vessel scrapping
• Old TRIS Terms: Plate cutting; Shipyard mechanization
• Subject Areas: Maintenance and Preservation; Marine Transportation; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00148632
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: British Ship Research Association
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Feb 23 1977 12:00AM