Atlas Copco's deep dive
24 August 2023
An Atlas Copco hand-held breaker and power pack combination is being used in an underwater cable-laying project at Malta’s biggest harbour.
When completed, the installation will allow cruise liners and cargo ships to plug into shoreside electricity to charge onboard systems while berthed at port, removing the need to use diesel generators.
However, a considerable amount of rock has to be removed to prepare for the related cable laying work and the contractor is using the LH 390 hydraulic breaker for the necessary drilling beneath the water’s surface, with power coming from the LP 18-40PE pack based on dry land.
Weighing 33kg, the tool is easy to manoeuvre and it offers 125 bar of pressure. It is coated with water resistant, anti-corrosion paint enabling use in saline ocean waters.
“Mobility is one factor that is really critical to this operation,” said Serdar Yaygili, General Manager of the contractor Pina Dalgıçlık İnşaat San and Trade (PDIST). “We are routinely diving into the water to remove rocks and debris from the seabed, then swimming back up to the surface again, all while operating and carrying our hand-held breaker.
“The LH 390’s high power-to-weight ratio means we can get plenty done in a short space of time, improving our team’s productivity and enabling us to ‘crack’ on with our project with ease – pun intended,” he added.
