Trelleborg to install mooring systems in Estonia harbor

TRELLEBORG, Sweden—Trelleborg A.B.'s marine and infrastructure operation received a contract from the Port of Tallinn, a harbor in Estonia, to install its rope-free automated mooring system, AutoMoor.

Trelleborg will install six AutoMoor T40 Twin Arm units at the Old City Harbour's Berth 13 cruise ferry wharf in the first quarter of 2020 as part of the Twin-Port 3 project, the company said in a news release.

The Twin-Port 3 project is being financed by the EU Connecting Europe Facility, a collaboration between Tallink, Viking Line and Eckero Line, the ports of Tallinn and Helsinki, and the City of Helsinki. Its total budget is $68.6 million, with the Port of Tallinn investing $17.7 million.

The system uses vacuum technology to rapidly attach to and secure a vessel at berth, reducing vessel motions and monitoring mooring loads on the vessel, Trelleborg said. It facilitates faster berthing processes, improves safety levels and minimizes personnel involvement.

"Berth 13 will service large cruise ferries from Finnish shipping companies including Viking Line and Eckero Line, on the Tallinn to Helsinki route across the Gulf of Finland, our busiest route," said Peeter Nogu, chief infrastructure development officer at the Port of Tallinn.

"As a result," he added, "it was vital that we upgraded the berth to ensure a high vessel throughput. With that in mind, it was essential that the upgrade saw the adoption of automated mooring systems to facilitate quick, safe and reliable mooring operations."

The T40 Twin Arm system, part of Trelleborg's marine and infrastructure SmartPort portfolio, has two mooring arms that operate together or independently to allow for flexibility in mooring vessels with varied hull profiles, Trelleborg said. It has a compact footprint, which allows for installation in limited spaces, including between gantry rails and the wharf edge. It integrates assets including fenders, mooring equipment and navigation systems through cloud and Internet of Things' technologies.

Trelleborg's marine and infrastructure operation, part of the company's Offshore & Construction business, provides engineered polymers to the marine, infrastructure and renewable energy industries. It manufactures and installs equipment such as fender systems, docking mooring equipment, and oil and gas transfer technology.