MARECHAL DS2 DECONTACTOR™ have been fitted to quay-side cranes at the Port of Liverpool, to replace out-dated hard-wired, ground-box connections. The DECONTACTOR™ allow the Port to improve electrical safety whilst integrating control

and power in the same connector, and minimising down-time and maintenance costs. With sealing to IP66/67, the DECONTACTOR™ provide a watertight and dust-tight connection, whilst the robust construction ensures an extended operational lifetime despite the heavy-duty operating environment and high levels of salt-water and spray.

 

The unique design of the DS2 DECONTACTOR™ includes safety features such as a quick-release button with an integral isolation switch, which makes it possible for the maintenance team to quickly and safely connect and disconnect power, even under load, and without the need for a qualified electrician. The connection is watertight as soon as the plug is inserted into the socket and the socket-outlet is watertight when lid closed. The DS DECONTACTOR™ are rated for currents up to 250A and are manufactured in metal casings, with silver-nickel butt contacts, enabling them to resist shocks up to IK09.

 

Gary Holcroft, Engineering Assets Manager at the Port of Liverpool, adds; “The auxiliary contacts in the DS2 DECONTACTOR™ have given us the flexibility to add electrical interlocks, which prevent accidental or malicious disconnection, and have also allowed us to add earth-leakage circuit-breakers.”

 

The Port of Liverpool handles 700,000 containers a year, making it one of the busiest ports in the UK. The installation of the MARECHAL DECONTACTOR™ not only increases electrical safety but also allows the maintenance team to work faster which minimises down-time and increases the number of containers that can be loaded and unloaded.