Bradwell B Nuclear Power Station

[Kukri]

Fairly unsurprising as the Port of Felixstowe is part of the Hong Kong based C K Hutchison Holdings, formerly known as Cheung Kong Holdings. They have yet to update the name of their head office building - Cheung Kong House. Wouldn't surprise me to hear that Zhenua Port Machinery Company is owned by Hutchison. It's also likely that China has installed as many container cranes as the rest of the world put together in the past 20 years, so that is where you would go for up to date experience of building these cranes.

Peter.

I did know that - and no, ZPMC is not connected to Huchison. (No “t”).

ZPMC are, by a country mile, the world leaders in port cranes; that is why Felixstowe have bought them for quite a few years now, as have larger ports, and why they got the order for the gantry crane for the new carriers.

The terms “best in the world” and “Made in China” are no longer self contradictory. That is really the point of this diversion into container cranes!?

 

[PeterWright]

So the Chinese are the world's leading builders of port cranes and those who think of China in connection with cheap tat, may be surprised to hear that China also leads the world in building nuclear power plant these days.

Getting back to this thread, the nuclear technology supplier for Sizewell B was Westinghouse Nuclear of Pittsburgh. Their only sales after that were of their AP1000 design, 4 to China and 2 to a stalled project in the US. The Chinese contracts included some tough clauses on Technology transfer. After Sizewell B, the Westinghouse Electric Corporation made some unwise investment in low cost housing in the US and went belly up, selling off the various parts of its empire. Westinghouse Nuclear was bought by the UK government (through BNFL) who only kept it for a few lean years before flogging it on to Toshiba, for whom it has made a loss ever since. The Chinese meanwhile have evolved the Westinghouse design (much as French licensee Framatome did in the 1970's) and are selling their well developed design both at home and abroad. Over the past decade the Chinese have more experience in nuclear build than anyone and the only surviving European supplier, Areva (formerly Framatome) is still trying to sell a design which belongs in the 20th century. like the one they're building at Hinkley Point in Somerset.

China is developing at the sort of rate the UK was in the industrial revolution. Unlike Europe, they have no shortage of professional engineers and they are all wiliing to learn from other countries, rather than sit smugly thinking that they always know best, a feature I have found too common in the UK over the past 48 years of practice as an engineer. It's time that all of Europe paid heed to the world's leading nation in Technology. We have helped them get where they are by adopting Carbon policies which did nothing to reduce carbon emissions but simply relocated the industry of production from Europe to China - we're unlikely to see any of it coming back in my lifetime. I've been there and worked with them - their commitment, drive and enthusiasm are stimulating.

By the way, my mobile phone is a Huawei.

Peter

 

[Kukri]

That is fascinating. Thank you, Peter.

In my own industry - merchant shipping - we have seen China move forward by leaps and bounds - I had a small hand in the the development of the NACKS shipyard in Nantong - and I can only echo what you say about enthusiasm, drive and commitment.

When I took a job in Beijing in December 1996 the unfortunate management trainee told off to collect me and carry my bags from the airport struggled with the lock on the grille for my company flat. ‘I’m sorry’ he said, ‘It’s a Chinese lock!’ And that was the moment when I knew that China’s industrial future would be good.

 

[Tomahawk]

None of which obviates my thoughts on Chinese safety standards.

One needs only look at their environmental record and lack of H&S that we would recognise to give cause for second thoughts.

 

[john_morris_uk]

With the ever increasing number (and increased efficiency) of wind turbines, we may not need another nuclear power station

Presumably when the wind isn’t blowing they can run off hot air from politicians or this forum?

 

[DavidofMersea]

None of which obviates my thoughts on Chinese safety standards.

One needs only look at their environmental record and lack of H&S that we would recognise to give cause for second thoughts.

They will be subject to the UK H&S rules like everybody else

 

[Tomahawk]

Would this be the same HSE process that allowed Public Health England to re-write the spec for PPE used by front line doctors in the face of supply shortages?
the hospitals cn say they were using the correct spec

 

[Kukri]

Would this be the same HSE process that allowed Public Health England to re-write the spec for PPE used by front line doctors in the face of supply shortages?
the hospitals cn say they were using the correct spec

Yes. That is the one. The one that the British Government can alter at will.

The one that you voted for by voting to leave the European Union.

Are you starting to realise what you have done?

 

[ryanroberts]

Have to assume the reason why they build huge reactors out in the sticks is just to concentrate the years and years of people trying to throw spanners in the planning, hippies lying in the middle of the roads etc. Nuclear power has an awful and largely undeserved reputation, much of it a cold war hangover.

 

[DavidofMersea]

Presumably when the wind isn’t blowing they can run off hot air from politicians or this forum?

I was thinking of the wind turbines AND other things such as solar, tidal, etc etc

 

[DavidofMersea]

Yes. That is the one. The one that the British Government can alter at will.

The one that you voted for by voting to leave the European Union.

Are you starting to realise what you have done?

It is this governments spec, so they can amend it if it was OTT

.... and what has Brexit got to do with it?

 

[john_morris_uk]

I was thinking of the wind turbines AND other things such as solar, tidal, etc etc

And I wasn’t making any point except trying to be funny.

 

[DavidofMersea]

And I wasn’t making any point except trying to be funny.

Well, you made a good point. I had not made myself very clear

 

[Tomahawk]

Yes. That is the one. The one that the British Government can alter at will.

The one that you voted for by voting to leave the European Union.

Are you starting to realise what you have done?

And I thought we were behaving like new found friends... That really does belong in the Lounge.

 

[Kukri]

Sorry.

 

[Cavalierbond]

I’ve noticed “ remoaners “ are trying to use covid to delay brexit ...
Laughable

 

[Kukri]

I’ve noticed “ remoaners “ are trying to use covid to delay brexit ...
Laughable

That also belongs in the Lounge

 

[Capt Popeye]

Well might be an idea if the sort of No Mans Land area that surrounds the new build could be designated as the local Traveller Site for the whole of the county Of Essex plus the East London overspill, that would (will) settle them Essex Mens appitite for Foreigners in their midst , eh ?

Have to assume the reason why they build huge reactors out in the sticks is just to concentrate the years and years of people trying to throw spanners in the planning, hippies lying in the middle of the roads etc. Nuclear power has an awful and largely undeserved reputation, much of it a cold war hangover.

Yes well my suggestion, made in jest at DoM , just might turn out to be a good sound idea ? For those Travellers and Essex Men appear to prefer similar, the quiet wild windswept flat countryside with lots of water around it, so why not build in a vast expanse of open Essex countryside where Essex Men and Travellers can exist 'side by side' peacefully, as the Power Station will consume great areas around it during production and build would be relatively easy to provide camps and dwellings for those Travellers .

Might write to the Planning authority and suggest it ?

 

[DavidofMersea]

Yes well my suggestion, made in jest at DoM , just might turn out to be a good sound idea ? For those Travellers and Essex Men appear to prefer similar, the quiet wild windswept flat countryside with lots of water around it, so why not build in a vast expanse of open Essex countryside where Essex Men and Travellers can exist 'side by side' peacefully, as the Power Station will consume great areas around it during production and build would be relatively easy to provide camps and dwellings for those Travellers .

Might write to the Planning authority and suggest it ?

Take a tip from me. If you have nothing sensible to contribute, it is better to say nothing, than make fool of yourself

 

[Capt Popeye]

Take a tip from me. If you have nothing sensible to contribute, it is better to say nothing, than make fool of yourself

Thank you kind Sir for your personal comments, but needless to say that i disagree with you; The Travellers do really need to setle down a bit, and what a better place that the Rough Countryside of East Essex, amoungst the marshes, its off the Beat, Remote, ready for development of the right sort, it has welcomming Locals evidently, guess that it would not attaract hostile anti development protesters. The sort of small scale development would I guess not look out of placein East Essex and also provide the protection of that special attraction that East Essex offers, so a Win Win sittuation both for the residents of East Essex and the Power Station build