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  1. We are WSP
  2. What We Do
  3. Sectors
  4. Dry Bulk Ports and Terminals

Dry Bulk Ports and Terminals

Planning and designing resilient and economical dry bulk terminals globally

“Our understanding of the challenges of geopolitics, shipping market dynamics, technology, decarbonisation and climate resilience guides the delivery of environmental, technical and economical solutions to our dry bulk clients”.
Ryan Hare, Technical Director - Maritime Engineering, WSP in the UK

Dry bulk ports and terminals play a vital role in the global economy, facilitating approximately 50% of all seaborne trade on a global scale. These facilities, dedicated or multi-purpose, handle a range of dry bulk commodities such as bulk minerals, agribulks, fertilizers and biomass, and play an essential role in logistical supply chains.

The long-term trade outlook for dry bulk commodities is positive, with bulk minerals supplying the large-scale energy transition and agribulk and fertilizer products feeding the ever-increasing global population.

Whilst our experts appreciate that the productivity and efficiency of bulk terminals is determined by the infrastructure, handling equipment and operational processes; we understand the intricate details relating to cargo characteristics and supply chain challenges that each of our client’s face.

Combining our ports and maritime expertise with our diverse in-house experience in market forecasting, mine resourcing and mineral processing, industrial developments, and energy generation, we are facing the challenges across the dry bulk sector head on.

Facilitating Business Transactions 

By combining financial, technical, and operational expertise, our team assists with the commercial decision-making process while minimizing investment risk. We provide strategic advice on market structure and trends, business planning, benchmarking, restructuring, traffic and demand modelling, transport cost analysis, tariff modelling, and developing a "go-to market" strategy for dry bulk terminals.

We have navigated our client’s business plans through the impacts of geopolitics through cargo diversification programs and optimization of operational costs. We have improved our client’s resilience through consideration of inventory and stock management strategies, with a focus on just-in-time supply chain models. We have successfully supported our clients with project funding and acquisition due diligence, and even steered our clients away from potentially poor investment and acquisition targets resulting from shortfalls in market positioning or unforeseen infrastructure investments.

Services:

  • Business Case Development
  • Operational Assessments and Process Improvements
  • Merger and Acquisition Due Diligence
  • Project Finance Due Diligence and Loan Monitoring
  • Expert Witness

Planning for the Future

We work with greenfield and brownfield bulk terminals to assess the value of new technologies to boost efficiency, improve safety and maintain operational continuity at times of disruption. Our dry bulk experts leverage port operational and design experience, our in-house proprietary suite of port and intermodal terminal planning tools, referred to as Port, Rail, Intermodal Modelling Engine (PRIME), and simulation software to plan and design all required infrastructure and supporting systems.

Climate adaption and resilience is a challenge facing all maritime transport infrastructure but is specifically relevant to dry bulk ports due to their geographical location. In recent years, extreme weather events have been causing frequent operational disruption and physical damage to dry bulk terminals and hinterland connections. We have a strong track record in modelling extreme events and climate-proofing infrastructure.

Services:

  • Terminal Planning (PRIME)
  • Supply Chain Capacity Analysis
  • EIA Studies
  • Coastal Modelling (including navigation, mooring and berthing studies)
  • Material Handling Systems Specification and Design
  • Infrastructure Design
  • Tender Support
  • Owner’s Engineering and Construction Supervision

Achieving ESG and Net Zero Targets

Our clients face a growing need to integrate environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles into enterprise risk management, business strategy, and decision-making. At WSP, we work closely with regulators, investors, developers, and operators to review, establish, and implement ESG metrics and targets at both corporate and project levels.

Our carbon accounting teams work together with our engineering teams to evaluate and model the carbon footprint of infrastructure options and operational strategies at the design stage. This support continues through to procurement and construction where we evaluate contractor ESG principles and the carbon footprint of design alternatives and material supply chains.

Services:

  • ESG Strategies, Benchmarking, Reporting and Disclosure
  • EHS Due Diligence
  • Capacity Building and Training
  • GHG and Life-cycle Assessments
  • Decarbonization and Net Zero Pathways

Maintaining Critical Assets

Whether a terminal handles bulk minerals or grain, it is essential that the facility remains competitive, and the operator has full sight of its costs and the health of its assets. Growth in trade, aging infrastructure in potentially highly corrosive environments and pressure for improved margins puts asset management top of the priority list.

Our asset management team offers decades of experience in inspection, monitoring and delivery of rehabilitation and replacement of ports and terminal projects. We provide long-term planning across the entire asset life cycle to minimize unplanned operational downtime and ensure customer service levels are maintained at the lowest possible cost.

Services:

  • Surveys
  • Inspections
  • Failure analysis and rehabilitation design
  • Recycle, Reuse and Replacement Plans
  • Operations and maintenance budgeting
  • Asset Management risk and vulnerability assessment and management

Case Studies

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Kwale Minerals Sands

Acting as EPCM Consultant for the construction of a new port infrastructure designed for mineral sands export.

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Roy Hill Iron Ore

The Roy Hill Iron Ore Project involved the delivery of a new mine and its process plant, a 344-km heavy haul railway from mine to port, and a new two-berth port facility at Port Hedland.

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An 800 meter long quay is being built in the Quarleshaven in Vlissingen

The new quay will make an important contribution to the region through the transshipment function of dry bulk goods: raw materials, organic agricultural products, but also rubble stones for the reinforcement of wind turbines at sea.
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Insights

Turning the Tide

Public sentiment has been hugely influential in our shift from fossil-fuelled power generation to clean and renewable energy sources. The question now is, how do we turn the tide on the mining sector’s “dirty” image and reveal how the mining supply chain and renewables can combine to limit global warming to at or below 2°C?

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A Solution for Exporting Grain in the Rain

A closer look at how to eliminate lost time due to rain in grain export terminals. WSP has been working on a “Safe Haven” concept, whereby the entire berth is covered, providing fully enclosed ship loading operations.

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5 Ways to Avoid a Bottleneck in Your Commodity Supply Chain

Ports are the lifeline for complex mining and oil and gas supply chains. Here are five questions to consider when shipping minerals and liquid bulk.

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