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HHLA’s Container Terminal Burchardkai receives four new gantry cranes in preparation for the world’s largest vessels
The Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA) Container Terminal Burchardkai (CTB) has taken delivery of four new gantry cranes as it continues to gear up for the arrival of the world’s largest ocean carriers.
The new cranes, to be joined by a fifth unit in the autumn, arrived at the terminal last week following an eight-week voyage from Shanghai, and will be used at CTB’s Waltershof Port for the handling of the recently launched 18,000 TEU vessels.
The arrival of the cranes, built by Chinese manufacturer ZPMC, also signals the end of the quayside expansion project at Waltershof Port, which now boasts a 1.4-kilometre quay, four berths and 15 gantry cranes.
“The increased handling capacity of the cranes on the quayside will improve our ability to meet these container mega-ships’ tight schedules,” commented Dr. Stefan Behn, responsible for the container segment on the HHLA board, who added that their presence is vital to customers in consideration of the continual delay to dredging works at the River Elbe.
The new cranes, weighing 2,400 tonnes a piece and capable of handling a maximum payload of 110 tonnes, will go into operation consecutively over the next few months.
