Ship unloader - USA

Dust-free cement unloading secured for Corpus Christi

A high-capacity Siwertell cement ship unloader for South Texas Cement’s terminal in the US port of Corpus Christi, delivers dust-free conveying to the operator. It was ordered by US-based GCCM Holdings after the unloader was assessed to be the best fit for the operator’s needs.

Customer need

Gulf Coast Construction Materials (GCCM) Holdings needed a high-capacity unloading system that would provide dust-free cement conveying at South Texas Cement’s new cement import terminal in the US port of Corpus Christi. 

It is the third-largest port in the US in terms of total tonnage and is situated on the coast of Corpus Christi Bay in the western Gulf of Mexico. The semi-tropical bay is both a haven for wildlife and industrial activity, making environmental protection a significant concern for operators in the area.

GCCM and South Texas Cement made the decision that their new terminal would be best served by a mechanical unloader. As well as environmental protection measures, factors considered by the companies during their decision-making process for the new equipment included machine size, unloading times and rates, venting requirements, electrical demand, capital and lifetime maintenance costs, ship size, and storage capacity.

Our solution 

Bruks Siwertell was able to demonstrate the proven characteristics of Siwertell unloading technology across all the areas considered. 

A Siwertell ST 640-M screw-type ship unloader, with a continuous rated cement-handling capacity of 1,500t/h, was assessed to be the best fit for the operator’s needs. It was delivered fully assembled to the terminal in 2019.

In combination with the operator’s belt conveyors, bucket elevators and air slide system, the unloader secures enclosed, dust-free cement handling all the way from the ship to the storage silos. From the silos, cement is loaded into bulk trucks as required.

The operator especially likes the high rate of cement unloading in combination with the versatility to handle the various ship sizes that the terminal receives. The Siwertell unloader is able to discharge vessels of up to 60,000 dwt, with a maximum beam of 32.2m.