“Tintin” call the dockers the crane, which was designed for bulk handling in the Capesize vessel class and the container handling in ships of post-Panamax class. The permanent night shift makes the crane operator from nothing, on the contrary: “Night is not so much bustle, you have a lot more peace.” And on the Bremen Skyline it has stunning panoramic views.
The trucks are ready that 31-tonne tower sections of wind turbines that Feldhusen has to haul the cargo areas, also. In the hustle and bustle below the crane operator has a good view through the bottom of its upstream, glazed cabin. A camera image of the boom tip opened him live another perspective: the long ropes that dangle from the boom, the Traverse, hanging on for this work four more ropes with hooks to the ground directly below. There run colleagues in safety vest busily preparing to and fro. “The sets eyes purely” explains Feldhusen the activity of a colleague on a truck-mounted platform at the top of the concrete segment. The “eyes” are thick eyelets at the end of the wire ropes to accommodate the load.
Sometimes it’s precision work, what the young man has to do with the mobile harbor crane. The boom is extended to exactly 36.8 meters, then the display. The contact through micro-down is there, the work can begin. The hook of the lower cables have stranded cables under control. Feldhusen lifts the boom. Slowly Slings, Traverse, hooks and tower segment turn to the left. “Wait, hold on,” comes up through the intercom. “Quite small to Weser over”, comes the next statement. Feldhusen presses the buttons of the left joystick briefly, then again and again. The load moves to the left, minimal. Yet he has to correct: “Go look very small to Bremen over.” Below lead men in reflective vest the concrete element with your hands with. The crane jerks almost imperceptibly. Then it’s done. “The situation can be maintained”, the colleague at the bottom. The half-shell is there arrived, where they must be. Using a joystick Feldhusen invites them off gently. The tower part should be exactly centered on the truck. Precision work precisely. “Some drivers take this very well,” he explains. “But I’m doing this for nine years. If I could not, I would have done something wrong. “Below, one takes out again the eyes. The truck departs, an unloaded takes his place. Then the game starts all over again. Five to six vices creates Feldhusen per hour, 35 to 40 per shift. Many tower segments have already disappeared. The asphalt looks like the Mikado game of a giant: a long wooden beams that underlay that are no longer required, are scattered everywhere.
Eight weeks ago Feldhusen and his colleagues have begun to load the concrete shells. “This is all a business, 4600 parts,” he says. Night after night, night after night go so many shells in the onward transport, such as trucks are there. Planning can dockworkers rare. Too often, wind and weather them a spanner in the works when it comes to precise arrival times.
More than one million tons of cargo are handled annually in Europe’s largest terminal for general cargo and heavy cargo. Goods come and go: forest products mainly from the USA, Finland, the Iberian Peninsula and Russia; Steel and components go as exports to the United States, North Africa and the Gulf States. Fascinated have the dimensions in the New Town harbors Feldhusen already when he visited as a boy his father at work. That is, after all, for 41 years here crane operator. “It’s totally fun,” says the young man about his work. His favorite Loads a container, delivering the barges from Bremerhaven. 140 containers fit on a ship, about 25 creates Feldhusen per hour. “The are pre jammed near the quay. There is not much to be observed and no long waiting times, “says the learned construction mechanic. Per Container Crockery he lifts the 30-ton container on effortlessly.
Until 144 tons can lift “Tintin”, if his arm is extended not more than 20 meters. The other way around Feldhusen can use a swivel range of 51 meters, but then lift only 45 tonnes. In short: “Tintin” is super. “It’s fairly new, pleasant to drive and is fixed with heavy weights.” What one loves so, it is customary accordingly. At the windshield, a window washer is mounted behind the seat a mini vacuum cleaner is next to fire extinguishers, helmet and reflective tape stowed. “For the dirt from the shoes on the disk.”
At this point everything is loaded, “Tintin” has the next location. Feldhusen switches on the display the symbols for tires, axles and feet. Once the feet are above the indicator turns green. Then a loud beep sounds – the signal that announces the upcoming trip. The joysticks are connected to the drive mode; a colleague helps when leaving a parking. “Stop!” He exclaims. “Since ist’n truck behind you!” With the thumb on the joystick Feldhusen rotates the crane. The Slings are blowing, then it starts. “Fire!”, The man calls down. Leisurely the huge vehicle moves through the night, while a red-hot sky over the steel plant announced a tap.