In 1969, the British Steel Corporation constructed a major ore terminal near the mouth of the River Tees. Opened in 1973, the terminal was equipped with two conventional grab-type Ore-Unloaders capable of handling iron ore, coal and concentrates. Ore Un-loader No.1, supplied to a William Arrol design, was capable of a 2,000 tonnes/hour discharge rate. It operated until 1995 when the refurbishment of the adjacent Ore Un-loader No.3 (which had been added subsequently) rendered it surplus to requirements. Unloader No.1 was parked in the stops at the end of its tracks, isolated and left in place until 2008 when a rise in the world scrap prices gave the opportunity to recover the cost of its disposal.
UK demolition specialist Thompsons of Prudhoe was awarded the contract to dismantle the structure. The Ore-Unloader weighed approximately 1,500 tonnes and stood at a height of 66 metres. The structure was dismantled into sections using oxy/propane hot cutting equipment. The sections, each weighing approximately 65 tonnes, were lifted from their resting position by a 1,000 tonne crane and transferred into a processing area at ground level. All access stairways to the structure had been previously removed for safety reasons and the only access available to operatives was via a 40 metre MEWP (manual elevated working platform) and two man-baskets suspended from 100 tonne cranes.
Prior to commencement of work each day, Thompsons’ Site Management met with Corus’ appointed Management Team to discuss the proposed work and to plan and agree the lifting procedures. Each section of the structure had to be removed with extreme care, due to the presence of three live conveyors located directly beneath the Unloader (which were used to discharge iron ore and coal removed from ships berthed along the dockside).
The demolition team consisted of a team of eight Demolition Operatives and their Site Supervisor (who worked directly alongside the team). In addition two demolition specification excavator machines – a Caterpillar 750 (equipped with pulveriser) and a Hitatchi 600 (equipped with hydraulic shears) – handled the scrap. The contract ran for a five week period, seven days per week. The demolition works were conducted under a possession period due to ship movements (delivery to the Wharf) and demolition progressed through adverse weather conditions.
The Corus Group were pleased with the operatives work and the removal of the hazardous structure. The whole project was completed without accident or incident and the Group Safety Manager commended the team.
Another story on Thompsons’ close working relationship with Corus is scheduled to appear in the March issue of Demolition & Dismantling, the magazine of the National Federation of Demolition Contractors.
