Associated British Ports (ABP), the UK’s largest ports group, has installed pinning stations to improve the safety of workers at its Humber container terminals.

Supplied by local supplier, Grimsby Pipework & Engineering (GPE), the four pinning stations are now operating at the Port of Immingham. According to ABP, it plans to also install four more at the nearby Port of Hull.

Pinning stations are directly related to the use of container handling at ports. Pinning involves operatives removing the twist lock pins from the four corners of the container where it sits on trailer.

The new stations will be offset from the vessel and sit within a marked area protecting the pinner from overhead dangers and surrounding vehicle movement.

They will also have red and green lights signalling when container transfer tugs can safely enter the pinning area.

“Our priority at the Humber Container Terminals is safety and having carefully assessed the need to eliminate the risks the pinners faced, the new stations do the job,” says Jamie Pearson, Head of Unitised (Humber) at ABP.

“By creating a safe working environment and having involved safety and operations teams in the design, we have now created a fit for purpose station thanks to Grimsby Pipework & Engineering.”

GPE fabricated the bespoke stations after undertaking a site survey of the area and inspecting the forklifts used on site.

“The project was driven by a shared commitment to improving safety during the installation and removal of container locking pins throughout loading and unloading operations,” says Mike Hemsworth, managing director of GPE.