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After a 39-day, 4,915 nautical mile journey across the AtlanticOcean, from the port of Zeebrugge, Belgium, plus a three-daytrip up the Congo River, the E-Crane Mama Mobokoli (motherthat takes care) midstream transfer station arrived on 20 Augustat its final destination at Matadi, Democratic Republic of Congo.The new, state-of-the-art E-Crane is designed to provide greatlyimproved production and operational efficiency andeconomy for Seaboard Corporation’s Midema grainunloading and flour mill operations.

“By 2007 the unloading procedures for Handy andHandymax vessels at our Midema grain operation hadbecome a serious problem, and it was quite obvious thatwe needed to revamp the whole operation,” said SeaboardCorporation vice president Jim Gutsch. “What wasn’tquite so obvious was how to get the most efficient anddependable equipment and system available—for now andwith substantial capacity for future growth. You just don’tdare make mistakes in choices like that.”

Seaboard had to first decide whether to invest heavilyin the dated and neglected existing Matadi infrastructureor build a new quay (only one of ten original quays is stillworking) or whether to take a new tack. Matadi is theinland port the farthest up the Congo River and has majorcongestion problems. After reviewing a number ofoptions, Seaboard decided that a floating trans-loadingstation was the fastest, most flexible and most cost-effective solution.

Further, if it becomes necessary to move the operation

in the future, Seaboard can easily transport the E-Crane barge toa new location, rather than leave behind an expensive facility.

“We investigated various options and equipmentmanufacturers,” Gutsch said. “Our first choice was the E-Crane.This decision was based originally on an E-Crane docksidefacility we visited in Houston, Texas that was very close to what

‘Mama Mobokoli’ arrives in the Congo, ready to revolutionize unloading

E-Crane 1500 Series floating bulk handlingterminal has a reach of 35.9 metres, a liftingcapacity of 13.5 tonnes, and unloading capacityof 400 tph.

DC09_P&T:CTD 27/8/08 11:28 Page 7

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After a 39-day, 4,915 nautical mile journey across the AtlanticOcean, from the port of Zeebrugge, Belgium, plus a three-daytrip up the Congo River, the E-Crane Mama Mobokoli (motherthat takes care) midstream transfer station arrived on 20 Augustat its final destination at Matadi, Democratic Republic of Congo.The new, state-of-the-art E-Crane is designed to provide greatlyimproved production and operational efficiency andeconomy for Seaboard Corporation’s Midema grainunloading and flour mill operations.

“By 2007 the unloading procedures for Handy andHandymax vessels at our Midema grain operation hadbecome a serious problem, and it was quite obvious thatwe needed to revamp the whole operation,” said SeaboardCorporation vice president Jim Gutsch. “What wasn’tquite so obvious was how to get the most efficient anddependable equipment and system available—for now andwith substantial capacity for future growth. You just don’tdare make mistakes in choices like that.”

Seaboard had to first decide whether to invest heavilyin the dated and neglected existing Matadi infrastructureor build a new quay (only one of ten original quays is stillworking) or whether to take a new tack. Matadi is theinland port the farthest up the Congo River and has majorcongestion problems. After reviewing a number ofoptions, Seaboard decided that a floating trans-loadingstation was the fastest, most flexible and most cost-effective solution.

Further, if it becomes necessary to move the operation

in the future, Seaboard can easily transport the E-Crane barge toa new location, rather than leave behind an expensive facility.

“We investigated various options and equipmentmanufacturers,” Gutsch said. “Our first choice was the E-Crane.This decision was based originally on an E-Crane docksidefacility we visited in Houston, Texas that was very close to what

‘Mama Mobokoli’ arrives in the Congo, ready to revolutionize unloading

E-Crane 1500 Series floating bulk handlingterminal has a reach of 35.9 metres, a liftingcapacity of 13.5 tonnes, and unloading capacityof 400 tph.

DC09_P&T:CTD 27/8/08 11:28 Page 7

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we wanted. We contacted E-Crane International USA, Galion,Ohio to see whether they could build a largely similartransloading station on a barge and adapt it to the congestedinfrastructure situation at Matadi. I must say that in all my yearsin engineering and purchasing equipment for jobs around theworld, I have never encountered a supplier that was sodetermined and dedicated to finding a practical solution.

“The Midema project was complex and difficult, but the E-Crane team worked and worked on the concept until acommercially viable solution was found and agreed on. BothGreg Stough (managing field director of Seaboard operations inthe Congo) and I are overwhelmed and impressed with thepride and determination the E-Crane team has shown.”

The floating midstream transloading station features a1,500-Series E-Crane (equilibrium crane) on a 1,000m2 barge.The barge will be towedalongside and secured to theship to be unloaded. It willthen use its winches to movealong the ships. Grain will betransferred from the ship intotwo hoppers by the E-Craneand transported directly tothe Seaboard flourmills byconveyor.

The 1500 Series has areach of 35.9 metres, a liftingcapacity of 13.5 tonnes, andunloading capacity of 400tph(tonnes per hour). The cabinsits 14 metres above waterlevel. The electric poweredcrane and barge can beoperated independently, andthere is a connection forshore power. Mama Mobokoliis designed to unload vesselsof 25,000 to 35,000 tonnes

The E-Crane’s uniqueequilibrium design features a

parallelogram style boom with adirect mechanical connectionbetween the counterweight and theload, ensuring near-perfect balancethroughout its full working range.This provides substantially lowermaintenance and operational costs,plus unmatched productivity andextreme versatility in bulk handling.The cabin is designed for operatorcomfort, visibility and easy, joy-stickoperation. E-Crane will traincustomer personnel in theoperation and maintenance of theunit.

Because the E-Crane’scounterweight moves bothup/down and back/forward, there isa very small tipping movement andso less barge movement andfriction between the terminal andvessel, as well as faster and moreprecise grab positioning. And the E-

Crane’s hydraulics make it possible to push down, or tamp thematerial for better filling capacity.

E-Crane International USA serves the North Americanmarket and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Belgian companyIndusign NV, manufacturer of the E-Crane product line.

Seaboard Corporation, Shawnee Mission, Kansas, USA is amultinational organization with 10,000 employees worldwide.The company’s main businesses include Seaboard Foods, anintegrated producer of premium pork products; SeaboardMarine, a containerized shipping service; and Commodity Tradingand Milling, an international grain processing and trading businesswith primary operations in Africa, South America and theCaribbean. Other major businesses include sugar and citrusproduction in Argentina and electric power production forpublic and private users in the Dominican Republic.

Mama Mobokoli (mother that takes care) arrives at the berth in Matadi,Democratic Republic of Congo.

Mama Mobokoli will be towed alongside25,000dwt to 30,000dwt vessels to be unloadedand will use its winches to move along the ships.

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