Highway to safety
For the most demanding applications, comprehensive, reliable terminal automation systems are more critical than ever
The modern winter ice road in Canada from Tibbitt to Contwoyto, a distance of 568km, operates as a supply route to the diamond mines at Ekati, Diavik, Snap Lake, and Tahera, for just 10 weeks of the year between January and March.
Built over an area comprising 87% water, during its construction the ice thickness is measured daily, and when it reaches 70cm along the entire route, light loads are permitted access. When the thickness achieves 107cm the road is opened for the very heaviest of cargoes, the fully laden Super B diesel fuel tanker, comprising a tractor and two tank trailers. The tankers carry 48,000- 49,000 litres of fuel, and have a gross vehicle weight of 52,000kg.
Canadian trucking and construction company RTL Robinson Enterprises Limited (RTL) has for many years transported diesel fuel to the diamond mines on behalf of Petro-Canada, Imperial Oil, and Shell Canada. Last year, the company began building its own storage capacity with four tanks providing a total volume of 160 million litres. The terminal became operational to despatch diesel fuel on 25 January this year, several days before the ice road was declared open to heavy vehicles. The company operates 70 Super B bottomloading tankers, and this season expects to haul around 1,500 loads of diesel. The modus operandi of the tank farm is to provide storage capacity to its clients who purchase and own any diesel fuel. RTL collects the diesel fuel during June to December from storage in Edmonton, Alberta, or from the railway terminal at Hay River, on behalf of the mine owner. Arriving at the Yellowknife depot, the fuel is offloaded and pumped to the appropriate customer tank, using one of three available loading areas.
