June 7 - Four super post-Panamax ship-to-shore cranes have arrived at the Port of Savannah's Garden City Terminal, Georgia, USA.
Designed by Finland headquartered Konecranes and assembled in Nantong, China, each crane can reach across vessels 22 teu wide, and can lift up to 65-tonnes to a height of 41.5 m above deck. Each unit weighs 1,388 tonnes and measures 132 m wide by 56.4 m tall. Heavy lift shipping specialist Dockwise delivered the cranes from China to the US gateway onboard its vessel Teal.
The gateway now boasts 25 electric-powered container cranes - the most of any single terminal in the US, says terminal owner and operator Georgia Ports Authority (GPA).
The arrival of the new super post-Panamax cranes fulfills an order placed by GPA with Konecranes during 2011. Port officials said the improvements to its crane fleet demonstrate GPA's commitment to expand capacity, provide growth opportunities and to deliver greater flexibility to meet customer needs.
"These new super post-Panamax cranes further enhance the cargo handling efficiency at the fourth-busiest container terminal in the nation," said GPA executive director, Curtis Foltz.
The GPA fleet now consists of nine post-Panamax cranes (accommodating the largest vessels capable of transiting the Panama Canal); and 16 super post-Panamax cranes, for vessels too large to transit Panama.
"Combined with the largest single container terminal in North America and two Class I railroads on site, these cranes will make the customer experience even smoother," Foltz added
