SISTEMA PÍER FLUTUANTE PARA TRANSBORDO DE GRÃOS

Description

1 / 5 “FLOATING PIER SYSTEM FOR GRAIN TRANSFER” Field of Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to port engineering and river transport logistics. More specifically, it concerns floating pier systems for port operations involving grain transshipment in aquatic environments with varying water levels, such as rivers and lakes. Description of the State of the Art

[0002] Currently, grain transshipment operations around the world utilize floating modules with cranes that perform offshore operations, where the modules dock alongside ships to transfer cargo.

[0003] In these operations, ships generally use their anchors, which are designed to support only the weight of the ship itself. With the increase in the volume of movement, the additional weight of the floating module with the crane and the barge convoys alongside significantly increases the safety risks.

[0004] In addition, current floating pier systems use only two barges, resulting in low productivity.

[0005] Document NO20210897A1 provides a port terminal, such as a container terminal, characterized by being a floating steel structure composed of an outer steel hull, an upper deck with rail structures for a ship-to-shore (STS) crane and / or a road structure for vehicles on or within the upper deck, and moorings connected to anchors and / or structures on land.

[0006] Document KR101118675B1 discloses a floating port, designed to float at sea, far from land, with one side where a ship can dock; a crane installed on top of said floating port, for loading goods onto the ship or unloading goods loaded onto the ship; a cable connecting the floating port to land and configured to move back and forth between the floating port and land, or to move in one direction between the port Petition 870250006258, dated 01 / 27 / 2025, p. 8 / 16 2 / 5 floating and land-based; and a conveyor that moves guided by said cable and transports goods loaded or unloaded by said crane, wherein the conveyor includes a clamp configured to couple and uncouple to said cable, characterizing the cargo loading and unloading equipment for ships.

[0007] Although these documents teach how to build a floating pier, they make no mention of a modular structure allowing for greater operational flexibility. Furthermore, they are silent regarding an independent mooring system that, in addition to anchoring the floating pier, also supports the ships moored to the floating pier.

[0008] According to an embodiment shown in this document, the floating port is designed to be anchored and released in a predetermined position by the mooring means, the buoy and also by the mooring means, allowing it to be anchored and released in a predetermined position.

[0009] Given the difficulties of the state of the art, there is a need to develop a floating pier equipped with its own mooring system, so that the ship can dock directly at the pier, so that the floating pier does not use the ship's anchors. In addition, a floating pier capable of operating in a way that provides greater productivity is necessary. Objective of the invention

[0010] It is an objective of the invention to increase the safety and efficiency of transshipment operations by providing a safe and licensed port terminal capable of simultaneously handling a larger number of vessels compared to conventional offshore operating systems.

[0011] It is also an objective of the invention to provide a floating pier equipped with an independent mooring system.

[0012] Another objective of the invention is to provide a floating pier equipped with a modular structure. Petition 870250006258, dated 01 / 27 / 2025, page 9 / 16 3 / 5 Brief Description of the Invention

[0013] In order to achieve the objectives of the invention listed above, a floating pier system is proposed, equipped with a modular structure comprising barges (floating modules) connected by eyelets, where each module is equipped with an articulated crane, allowing flexibility and expansion of the terminal.

[0014] Furthermore, the floating pier system also includes an independent mooring system, in which the barges are anchored to the riverbed by means of large concrete blocks (moorings), which are connected by mooring lines tensioned by winches. This independent mooring system eliminates the need to use the ships' anchors for stabilization.

[0015] The invention provides greater safety and efficiency for transshipment operations, responding to the growing demand for cargo handling and reducing the risks associated with the use of ship anchors. The modular capacity of the pier allows for future expansion to accommodate a larger number of vessels and barges, making it a safe and practical solution for port terminals in regions with varying water levels, such as large rivers. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0016] The present invention will be described in more detail below, with reference to the attached figures which, in a schematic and non-limiting way of the inventive scope, represent examples of its embodiment. The drawings show: Figure 1 illustrates the floating modules according to one aspect of the invention; Figure 2 illustrates the mooring assembly according to one aspect of the invention. Petition 870250006258, dated 01 / 27 / 2025, page 10 / 16 4 / 5 Detailed Description of the Invention

[0017] Below is a detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, which is exemplary and in no way limiting. Nevertheless, it will be clear to a person skilled in the art, from reading this description, that there are possible additional embodiments of the present invention still encompassed by the essential and optional features described below.

[0018] As can be seen in Figure 1, the proposed invention consists of a modular floating pier system comprising floating modules 100 connected by eyelets, each floating module being equipped with an articulated crane, allowing cargo to be transferred between ships and barges efficiently. In one embodiment of the invention, the system has three operational modules 110, 120 and 130, with module 110 equipped with an articulated crane 111, module 120 equipped with an articulated crane 121, module 130 equipped with an articulated crane 131 and an additional support module 140.

[0019] Based on this configuration of the invention, the floating pier system allows the simultaneous operation of up to six floating modules and one ship in the initial configuration. This capacity represents a significant increase compared to conventional systems, which usually support only two barges per operation.

[0020] According to Figure 2, the floating pier system also comprises an independent mooring system, in which the barges are anchored to the riverbed by means of large concrete blocks (moorings) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16, which are connected by mooring lines tensioned by winches. These winches are configured to adjust the tension on the mooring lines according to variations in river level during the flood and ebb seasons.

[0021] In one embodiment of the invention, the floating pier system can be expanded to incorporate up to six cranes, enabling the simultaneous operation of two ships and twelve barges. Petition 870250006258, dated 01 / 27 / 2025, page 11 / 16 5 / 5

[0022] Based on the achievements of the invention, a person skilled in the art will recognize that the invention offers greater safety, since the independent anchoring minimizes the risks associated with the use of ship anchors, which now only dock at the anchored pier.

[0023] Increased productivity can also be observed, as the system offers increased efficiency in transshipment operations with the ability to operate multiple barges simultaneously.

[0024] Finally, those versed in the art will appreciate a reduction in environmental impact given that the operation at the moored pier allows compliance with environmental and safety regulations of competent bodies.

[0025] It is noted that the embodiment of the invention described herein in this descriptive report is intended to clarify and provide sufficient description of the invention, but the scope of protection of the invention is limited by the claims. Petition 870250006258, dated 01 / 27 / 2025, p. 12 / 16

Claims

1 / 1 CLAIMS 1. FLOATING PIER SYSTEM FOR GRAIN TRANSFER, characterized in that it comprises: floating modules (100) connected by eyelets, at least one of which is a support module and the other modules being operational modules, each operational module being equipped with an articulated crane; and independent mooring assembly, in which the barges are anchored to the bottom of the river by means of large concrete blocks (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16), which are connected by means of mooring lines tensioned by winches.

2. FLOATING PIER SYSTEM FOR GRAIN TRANSFER, according to claim 1, characterized in that the system has four floating modules (110, 120, 130, 140), being three operational modules (110, 120, 130) and one support module (140), wherein the operational module (110) is equipped with an articulated crane (111), the operational module (120) is equipped with an articulated crane (121), the operational module (130) is equipped with an articulated crane (131).

3. FLOATING PIER SYSTEM FOR GRAIN TRANSFER, according to claim 1, characterized in that the system has six floating modules.

4. FLOATING PIER SYSTEM FOR GRAIN TRANSFER, according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the winches are configured to adjust the tension on the moorings according to variations in river level during the flood and ebb seasons. Petition 870250006258, dated 01 / 27 / 2025, pp. 13 / 16

Images