Credit: www.pmindia.gov
Liebherr, a provider of smart lifting solutions, has announced that it is working with India’s first inland terminal, which was officially inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in November 2018.
The first container cargo transported on India’s inland waterways was handled by Liebherr equipment, upon its arrival at the newly developed port complex in Varanasi.
Varanasi’s port, located 780 kilometres east of the Indian capital Delhi, is part of the World Bank-aided Jal Marg Vikas project of the Inland Waterways Authority of India, with three other terminals currently under construction at Sahibganj, Haldia and Gazipur.
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Vessels arriving at Varanasi, via the Ganga river, will be loaded and unloaded by Liebherr’s LHM 180 mobile harbour cranes, which were sold initially to Afcons Infrastructure Limited.
Afcons is part of the Shapoorji Pallonji Group and one of the biggest infrastructure development companies, undertaking various projects across the country and around the world.
Both of Liebherr’s cranes, currently in operation at Varanasi, are running with a 390kW Liebherr diesel engine and provide a maximum lifting capacity of 64 tonnes in four-rope configuration.
Modi Opens India's First Inland Port #PTIDaily SEE MORE: https://t.co/u8YYAKkVmC@narendramodi #india #ports #terminals pic.twitter.com/keaxvwdCyP
— Port Technology (PTI) (@PortTechnology) November 12, 2018
With their maximum outreach of 35 metres, the LHM 180 equipment is also the right handling solution for feeder and handysize ships arriving through the river Ganga.
Liebherr discusses innovative technology for modern terminals in a recent Port Technology technical paper
Sunil Kalra, Divisional Head of the Maritime Division of Liebherr India, commented: “We feel honoured and proud to be part of this ground-breaking infrastructure project.
“Our cranes are extremely reliable and will clearly support the handling of goods in the Port of Varanasi.
“We also hope that Liebherr cranes will be used for the efficient container handling of the other planned inland terminals in Sahibganj, Haldia and Gazipur.”