Nord Clan has deployed its ML Sense machine vision system at the Nakhodka Commercial Sea Port. The technology provides round-the-clock monitoring of conveyor belts, which handle bulk abrasive materials like coal, alumina, and metal products. The system detects tears, cuts, and punctures in real time, logs precise coordinates, and tracks the progression of damage over time.
Previously, inspections were performed manually by operators during walk-throughs. Given the belt length of approximately 2 km and a speed of 3.5 m/s, manual checks required stopping the equipment, which hindered the port's daily capacity of up to 612 railcars. The new automated solution allows for continuous monitoring without interrupting operations.
The installation process involved selecting a specific segment where the belt runs empty and changes direction to ensure optimal lighting and image quality. The setup includes an industrial camera housed in a protective casing with an air-purging system to prevent coal dust accumulation. An encoder tracks belt movement to map defects relative to a fixed reference point.
By capturing new images each time a defect passes the monitoring zone, ML Sense builds a historical record of damage dynamics. This data enables maintenance teams to plan repairs based on the actual condition of the equipment rather than fixed schedules. This approach helps the port minimize the risk of emergency ruptures and unplanned downtime.
