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Bulk Materials Transportation
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WINDALCO's rail transportation requirements for alumina and imported bulk
materials were met by the Jamaica Railway Corporation (JRC) up until November
1990, when a new agreement came into effect with JRC. Under
this agreement a new entity - Middlesex Railway Services (MRS), a division of
WINDALCO, provides rail service for the company.
MRS operations are confined to WINDALCO corridor tracks. All
shunting operations at the Port and both Plants are now undertaken by the new
entity. JRC continues to own the mainline tracks in that corridor, while MRS
provides all track maintenance services.
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All rolling stock (164 rail cars of various types) and the switching
locomotives are owned by WINDALCO and operated and maintained by MRS. Permanent
crew accommodation, track maintenance and locomotive maintenance and servicing
facilities are in place.
MRS is organised to operate within the Mines, Port and Transportation Unit
thereby benefiting from operation synergy while retaining the advantages of its
unique character through direct linkage to WINDALCO.
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Train
transporting alumina |
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Port Esquivel
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Built between 1952 and 1954 near Old Harbour, St. Catherine, the Port is 51
km by rail from both alumina Plants. The first shipment of bulk alumina was made
in 1954.
The 208 m long concrete and steel pier with the channel and turning basin
recently dredged to a safe draft of 12 m, can load a cargo of 35,000 tonnes of
alumina in a turn-around time of 38 hours.
Five large silos, capable of holding
75,000 tonnes of alumina in bulk, feed a conveyor which can discharge 1,400
tonnes an hour into the ship's hold. The pier provides berths for two vessels at
a time, one of which is installed with the alumina ship-loading facilities,
whilst both berths can handle the loading and unloading of general cargo, raw
material and fuel oil. There is a shore wharf approximately 76 m long with
maximum draft of 5.2 m, for handling smaller vessels.
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Port Esquivel
"Dust-free"
Shiploader installed in 1998
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The pier has storage capacity for 3,500 tonnes of bagged alumina and general
cargo. Currently under construction is a new shiploader dust suppression system
at the Port which when commissioned will significantly reduce dusting during the
loading of ships. There is bulk storage for fuel oil, liquid caustic soda and
sulphuric acid - all for use at the two alumina plants.
The Old Harbour Power Station owned by the Jamaica Public Service Company
(JPS) is supplied with Bunker 'C' Oil via undersea pipeline from storage at Port
Esquivel, which is specially reserved for receiving JPS fuel oil in Port.
Since October 1991, the company has set up its own customs bonded warehousing
facilities at Port Esquivel. Containerized cargo and other goods from overseas
are received, cleared and distributed to all WINDALCO's locations. Formerly, this
service was carried out at a privately owned customs bonded warehouse in
Kingston.
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Kingston
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Our Kingston Office is the hub of WINDALCO's materials management administration
and is occupied by staff engaged in Traffic activities.
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Ore Processing
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