In the port of Narvik, Norway, Sarens led the installation of a new shiploader for LKAB's iron ore export operations. The equipment replaces a facility that was commissioned in 1977 and is part of the terminal's modernization program, which has a budget of SEK 5 billion.
The project was carried out in two phases. The first involved dismantling the old shiploader, an open structure weighing approximately 2,900 tons. The operation required strength studies, 3D modeling, and a complete geometric scan. The dismantling was carried out in three parts: a main body weighing approximately 2,500 tons and two rotating parts, on the land and sea sides, weighing approximately 200 tons each. The operations involved hydraulic lifting systems and 84 SPMT axle lines.
The second phase involved installing the new shiploader, which was manufactured in Poland. The entire unit weighs approximately 2,200 tons, including a main body weighing 1,800 tons. Maritime transport and installation were carried out using hydraulic lifting towers and SPMTs.
Unlike the old equipment, the new loader is fully enclosed. The conveyors and transfer points are enclosed to limit the dispersion of ore dust and reduce noise pollution. The installation complies with current CE standards and has been designed to facilitate access for maintenance operations.
The port of Narvik handles around 20 million tons of mining products per year. The new shiploader is part of a logistics chain that includes 1.5 million-ton underground silos and 8,000-ton trains from mining sites in northern Sweden.
