Marine Loading&Unloading Arm

Marine loading arm system: The articulated metal loading arm system, to be installed on the pontoon, is used for transferring products to or from ships with the capability of accommodating differences in tides and freeboard and ship motions (to see the figure);it is a high efficiency、safe loading facility.

The loading arm is equipped with a counterweight balance system, which can let the outboard and inboard arm balance at any position when it is not connected with the vessel via. in empty condition.

The type of the loading arm can be design according to the owner’s on spot requirements, It is a compact structure, high reliable in property and wind-resisting and anti-earthquake .

The loading arm system consists of three parts: loading arm , the electric control assembly and hydraulic control assembly, all parts of the system are shown in the following figure :

The destination of the loading arm is reflected by the alterable and complex operating envelope、the loading medium、requirements operating simultaneously、the distance between the manifold、the layout of the jetty and the pipe line、the type of the Loading arm、environment loads、accessory equipments and etc. All these factors must be considered at the primary designing phase and fill it in final data sheet.

■ Emergency release system

Emergency Release device can separate marine loading & unloading arm from the ship quickly and automatically under emergency case (Fire, Typhoon, Tidal wave and Surf and other uncertain case). It can be sure safety of production operation during mooring shipment needs to load and unload liquid and gas at jetty. Consequently, it is more and more playing an important role on protecting environment, safeguard and lessening losing because of accident.

The ERC designed and manufactured by Eminent (Patent No. ZL200420025919.8) has four features as below:

● Eliminate enormous striking effect when shut off in emergency.

● Adopt shutoff in line to prevent medium flowing into sea in the case of emergency shutoff and reduce pollution

● Adopt two (soft and hard) seals to prevent fire spreading.

● Booster pulleys are equipped to insure double ball valves can separate completely in short time.

■ Posture controller for 3-D joint(EPC)

3-D joint of traditional loading arm especially big-bore loading arm is difficult to abutting joint with flange of ships. The device developed and designed by Eminent can realize quick abutting joint with ships by one operator.

Model of loading arm

◆ Diameterr: 4″、6″、8″、10″、12″、14″、16″、20″、24″

◆ Design pressure: 0.6MPa~5.0 MPa

◆ Design temperature: -196~300℃

◆ Applicable medium: oil product, petrochemical product, liquid gas, liquid asphalt and ballast water.

For transmitting high temperature medium, we can provide particular loading arm with electric heat, steam heat and insulating layer.
SEED can supply different model and dimension loading arms according to users’ different requirements.

Marine Loading & Unloading Arm
RC/E:
The model RC/E features a separate support structure with its own generously sized mechanical bearings, which take up all major external loads and moments. The swivel joints and pipe only subjected to stresses by internal pressure and weight. Pipe is attached to supporter by means of special mounts which also compensate for thermal expansion due to temperature variations to avoid overstressing. Nominal diameter is 6″、8″、10″、12″、14″、16″、24″large-diameter loading arm , double pipes arm and 5,000 ~ 300,000-ton ship.

FB/E:
This type has simple structure, and adopts self-supporting mechanism, and all loads are bore by swivel joint, adopts double balance. Nominal diameter is 3″、4″、6″、8″small-diameter loading arm and 100 tons ~ 10,000tons.

EA:
The type adopts self-supporting structure and rope pulley rotating balance, Nominal diameter is 4″、6″、8″、10″、12″middle-diameter loading arm and 5,000 tons ~ 300,000 tons ship.

■ Selection guide for loading arm
How to chose the quantity and specification of loading arm.
To determine the model, quantity and size of loading arm, the following factors should be considered: the article variety and characteristics of loading and unloading efficiency, flow rate (loading arm allows flow ≤ 11m / s), the pressure loss of the ship, the terminal type and terminal piping space and the capacity of loading and unloading base on investments in relation to the loss of tanker ballast the basis of economic assessment.

Optional Components (Accessories):
1. vacuum connector

2. Drain connector

3. Purge system

4. Safety Ladder

5. Adjustable support jack

6. manual/hydraulic control quick connect/ disconnect coupler (QC/DC)

7. Insulation flange

8. over limit sound and light alarm system

9. Electro-hydraulic control system

10. Hydraulic control emergency release system.

11. Electric trace heating

12. Eteam trace heating

Loading Arm Diameter and Quantity Selection Table

Arrangement of loading arm:

As the gathering pipes flange of tanker is normally installed at the middle part of ship, loading arm should be installed at the central front of berth.. The distance A1 between center of vertical column of loading arm and front edge of jetty can be selected according to the below table.

When multi-loading arms installed, the center distance of neighboring vertical column should be defined according to loading arm dimension, moving scope and space between jointing pipes, please select from the below table: