Raw sugar produced by the sugar factories is transported to the terminal by heavy duty lorries/trailers onto which are mounted three or four sugar boxes of 6.5 tonnes capacity each. Fully computerized weighbridges ensure accurate weighing of the sugar lorries at the receiving station. The sugar boxes are then tipped using electro-mechanical equipment to unload the sugar onto conveyor belts which is then conveyed to the storage sheds.
Two-storage sheds, each having a storage capacity of 175,000 metric tonnes harbours in bulk, the plantation white sugar as well as the non-originating sugar. The sheds infrastructure are so designed to resist cyclonic winds of 300 km/hr. The storage sheds are protected against any fire outbreak through a state of art fire detection and fire fighting system.
Since 2009, Shed No. 2 is dedicated for the storage of special sugars in 1 tonne bags destined for exportation.
- Delivery of Sugar to Refineries
Plantation White Sugar (PWS) and Non-Originating Sugar (NOS) from shed number one are delivered through a new conveying system (C14) inside the shed. The lorry is positioned under discharging hoppers where an operator triggers the pneumatic gate to load the sugar boxes. The lorry is then weighed at the receiving station and directed to the refineries namely Alteo and Omnicane. Delivery of non-originating sugar is also done through the out-loading conveyors and reclaimed at the return bin of the sugar quay.
All equipment and machinery undergo rigorous maintenance phases based on a pre-planned preventive maintenance programme and coupled to that, critical equipment are routed to a conditioned-based monitoring cycle.
Most of the maintenance and repair works are carried in-house except for big projects which are outsourced. The workshop is equipped with specialized tools and equipment and among others this include a lathe, a milling machine, a hydraulic press, welding equipment both arc and gas, heavy duty drilling machine. Two mobile cranes facilitate transportation of heavy loads, tarring of weighbridges, maintenance of sugar boxes and working at heights with the man-platform attachment.
In view of the geographical position of the Terminal and being exposed to the saline environment, the whole structure which is made of steel and aluminium cladding are subject to adverse environmental impacts. The total built-up area is approximately 43,000 m².