Ports Australia has released its updated Wharf Structures Condition Assessment Manual (WSCAM), providing asset owners with guidelines for consistent inspections.
Members of Ports Australia, along with Royal HaskoningDHV, worked collaboratively throughout 2022 to produce the updated manual.
The manual is a tool to help asset owners with consistent and repeatable inspections of a wide range of asset types including but not limited to wharves, piers, jetties, walkways, breakwaters, revetments, embankments, and other fixed assets.
It contains a condition inspection framework and visual assessment tool, both of which are flexible for user customisation.
Ports Australia CEO, Mike Gallacher, said the Wharf Structures Condition Assessment Manual has been created to assist those within the port and maritime industry to maintain their static assets.
“However, the WSCAM isn’t only for the port and terminal industry. This tool can be used across a range of other industries such as engineering firms, local councils, and State Government departments,” Mr Gallacher said.
Updates to the WSCAM include:
- The expansion of the scope of the Manual to all port fixed structures excluding buildings
- Rationalise inspection approaches resulting in a single assessment tool that is flexible for user customisation
- Provide guidance on a risk/criticality-based approach to determine the frequency of inspections
- Cover more materials and technology used in assessments
The benefit of using the WSCAM is that inspection results are consistent and repeatable, delivering consistent inspection results of your assets, even considering a variability of different inspectors. Assessments can be made more consistent with example imagery and formulae for calculations.
Regardless of being made in Australia, the WSCAM can be utilised around the world independent of one’s geographic location. The WSCAM has been tried and tested in locations with completely opposite climate and variables.
Ports Australia Engineering and Asset Management Chair, Carsten Varming, said for businesses investing in a tool like the WSCAM, is a no brainer.
Carsten Varming presenting at Ports Australia General Meeting
“This allows businesses to be more sustainable. It helps keep existing assets functioning for longer avoiding unnecessary replacements which reduces environmental, operational, and capital impacts and is in turn more economical for businesses,” Mr Varming said.
Featured Image: Left to Right – Marika Calfas, NSW Ports CEO, Carsten Varming, Ports Australia Engineering and Asset Management Working Group Chair, Mike Gallacher, Ports Australia CEO, Stewart Lammin, Ports Australia Chair.
