A ship-sized sandblasting screen

[Port Douglas Sailmakers Pty Ltd.] Port Douglas, Queensland, Australia

A shipyard needed an 18-meter by 18-meter sandblasting protection screen that could be placed behind ships once they were winched into position on an industrial slipway. The client needed a removable screen that was capable of containing sandblasting particles and was user friendly, including providing quick and easy removal and replacement when needed. The project challenged the Port Douglas Sailmakers design team due to its height requirements, type of fabric needed and allowance for limited wind retention. The most difficult issue was how to open and close the screen to allow ships in and out of the enclosure without impeding the tracks. The finished project solved a long-standing environmental concern of how to fully enclose this type of facility. The project won an IAA 2010 Award of Excellence.