Page 31 - Port of Kokkola Handbook & Directory

TECHNICAL & ENVIRONMENTALWorking fast for customer satisfactionPort of Kokkola’s technical team has its finger on the pulse of everything that’s going on, both inside and around the port estate.Tapio Lampinen, Technical Manager, Port of Kokkola“Clients expect us to react quickly when the occasionarises. It’s their expectation and that’s exactly what we do – andfast,” says Port of Kokkola’s Technical Manager, Tapio Lampinen. “We are responsible for all technical issues in the port area – maintenance, cranes, quays, warehouses – and we operate through two shifts, 24/7 every day of the year. And when there is a problem, we jump on it as fast as we can.”Port of Kokkola is currently refurbishing 5,000 m2 of warehousing within the port estate and Tapio is overseeing the work through to the point where buildings are ready to be fully used once again. Some of them will be used to store white bulk goods including fertilisers for international export.Tapio is currently busy putting his technical expertise into plans for the installation of a second rail tippler terminal and new conveyor systems in the Deep Port. Work will commence on both projects in 2018 and it will be his job to supervise technical aspects of both projects from start to finish. “These are both big projects which, when completed, will help us speed cargo flows and make us more efficient and attractive to new customers,” says Tapio.The technical team also oversees environmental issues facing the port and Tapio is a member of a special environment group of 10 people drawn from the port and Kokkola Industrial Park who meet monthly to discuss common problems and upcoming issues such as noise, dust, water pollution and contamination of sea water from ships’ ballast.Tapio is also involved in the selection of construction companies hired to conduct harbour construction works in all parts of the port. This involves helping to select the most suitable company submitting competitive tenders for the work, drawing up a shortlist of suitable candidates and choosing the winning company.The management of water and sewage networks, heating, electricity, energy and telecommunications in the port is also covered by Tapio and his team of two supervisors and eight maintenance staff.Tapio studied building and construction at the Vaasa Technical Institute before joining the Finnish Maritime Administration. He has worked for Port of Kokkola for 16 years. lHANDBOOK & DIRECTORY PORT OF KOKKOLA29