Recent Projects

Techflow Marine alongside our supplier SafeRack, in the US, have recently completed an upgrade at the Baton Rouge Marine Terminal by replacing their 40-year-old marine loading arms with SafeRack’s DockReel system (US) QuayReel (UK)

The Installation:

It’s not the load that breaks you down, it’s the way you carry it!

We have installed multiple DockReels/QuayReels equipped with 75-foot 10-inch hoses, along with a 75-foot telescoping crane to support loading operations. The project involved removing legacy marine arms that had served the terminal for four decades and installing raised platforms to accommodate the new reel-based system.

The DockReels/QuayReels were shipped on flat racks on open-top containers, then installed on custom-designed elevated platforms. After hose testing and connection, the system were commissioned and ready for barge and ship loading on the Mississippi River.

Loading Arms vs DockReel/QuayReel:

Although loading arms have been around for many decades, they do lack the benefits that our new systems can offer.

Loading arms are extremely heavy structures that require a huge amount of maintenance and infrastructure support, with a large footprint required. We can reduce costs based on significantly less complexities both at installation and management stages.

• Upto 90% more maintenance costs over a 3 year period
• Footprint - envelope window of approximately 3ft Vs 32ft
• Our systems are 60-70% lighter, reducing the pressure of load on your dockside

Cost Savings:

DockReel/QuayReel systems eliminate most of these maintenance issues. Without complex swivel joints and heavy mechanical linkages, there are fewer components to maintain, inspect, and replace.

We can reduce loading times and demurrage. Every moment a vessel sits in a dock waiting to load or unload it costs money. Our systems have flexible hoses with a larger footprint for the movement of the vessels in potentially rough or moving waters. We can significantly reduce the time required for these operations.

The hose auto-unwind feature can deploy up to 1,500 feet of hose automatically if a vessel moves unexpectedly, maintaining connection and preventing costly interruptions.

The price of doing the same old thing is far higher than the price of change!

Advanced Safety Features:

Safety is paramount in marine loading operations. DockReel/QuayReel integrates several features that traditional loading arms lack:

• Marine Emergency Breakaway Couplings: Weak-link dry-break couplings installed between hose sections and at manifold connections automatically disconnect if tension exceeds safe limits—preventing spills and equipment damage when vessels drift or depart unexpectedly.

• Wireless Control Units: Remote operation improves operator visibility and keeps personnel at a safe distance during connections and transfers. Operators can monitor and control operations without being exposed to pinch points or moving mechanical components.

• Hose Auto-Unwind: If a vessel begins moving away from dock, the system automatically deploys additional hose (up to 1,500 feet) to maintain connection and prevent sudden disconnections that could cause spills.

Traditional loading arms present pinch point hazards from rotating and moving components that can cause serious injuries. Their rigid structure also makes them less forgiving when vessels shift position due to tides, currents, or wind.

Are your Arms Over-reaching? - Is the cost weighing you down – Take a load off – Buy QuayReel/DockReel

Use our contact form now to gain further information on our QuayReel/DockReel product or a quote for your next installation. Further information can be found on our product pages.

QuayReel is a product in the UK and DockReel in the US.

From build to installation...

Our latest project can be found at the Chemical Plant in Beaumont - Texas. The 1st installation of its kind in the USA.

With an increased demand for flexible and versatile solutions for tanker loading and offloading operations, the possibilities with our intelligent QuayReel®/DockReel® System are becoming more apparent. In 2020 a QuayReel®/DockReel® campaign was launched, attracting a global following and sparking interest from a multi-national company. This client is a major US oil refining and petrochemical company with plants across the globe.

Over a two year period, after our initial contact, we have been working with their marine team at the engineering centre to establish a functional and engineering specification for the QuayReel®/DockReel®, as an alternative solution to their current operational requirements. In December 2022 the contract was awarded, the reels were shipped in August 2023 and installed in November 2023.

We have designed, built, delivered and installed 12 QuayReel®/DockReel® Systems, divided over 3 berths, as a replacement for their current 26-year-old marine loading arms.

Berth 1: Replacement of 4 off FMC RCMA 60’ marine loading arms 8” with 5 QuayReel® Systems complete with Electro-Hydraulic powerpack. Products handled: - Benzene- Aromatic Concentrate- LAO- Toluene – Vapour. Berth 2: Replacement of 4 off FMC RCMA 60’ marine loading arms 8” with 4 QuayReel® Systems complete with Electro-Hydraulic powerpack. Products handled: - Paraxylene- Aromatic Concentrate- Pygas- Vapour. Berth 3: Replacement of 4 off FMC RCMA 60’ marine loading arms 8” with 3 QuayReel® Systems complete with Electro-Hydraulic powerpack. Products handled: - Toluene- Aromatic Concentrate- Vapour.

The system was inspected, vetted and approval by the US Coast Guard in one day and the success of this project has led to a new contract for five 10" reels at the another site of the same company in Baton Rouge-LA, USA.

Project Name:

Wharf Hose Reel project – Beaumont – Texas - USA

Product commissioned:

Quayreels ® (Dockreel® in the USA)– Tanker Loading & Un-loading

Date of commission and installation:

Awarded – December 2022 and Installed – November 2023

Reason for Commission:

Replacement of marine loading arms that were over their design service life time. The company was in search of a solution that has better availability and lower maintenance requirements than loading arms, but still has the ease of operation and safety features as those of loading arms.

How did the product meet with their operational requirements:

QuayReel®/DockReel® provides a versatile, safe, low maintenance solution for dockside loading and un-loading operations. With better flowrates, a small footprint and lower impact on the dock or jetty deck.

Benefits experienced by the client:

• Less weight and more compact
• Easier to use,
• Flexible loading
• Noise Reduction
• Significantly better flow rate
• Reduced footprint
• Reduced obstruction
• Simultaneous Loading
• Reduced operational and maintenance time
• Improved safety

Client satisfaction:

“I really appreciate the way that we have all come together as one to execute this very important project. We should be proud of the bonds and partnership formed here, and the incredible tenacity demonstrated to complete this installation. We look forward to future partnerships with Techflow Marine and SafeRack, and I will be glad to speak to any of our partners about the positive things that I observed in this partnership.”

Site Projects Manager - Beaumont Area Projects

“We would not have been able to deliver this project flawlessly without the great engagement and support from Techflow Marine and SafeRack. I hope we can work together in the future, whether at Beaumont or at another site. Keep up the fantastic and innovative work! I will keep bragging about the innovative application of this technology - first in downstream and chemical in our company, and first in the USA. Awesome to be leading the world in this space. Thank you!”

Aromatics and Utilities Business Team Leader - Beaumont Complex Product Solutions