The Port of Newcastle in Australia has inaugurated two new mobile harbour cranes.
The mobile harbour cranes are now in their final stages of commissioning and are expected to commence cargo and container handling this September.
With an outreach of 54 metres, and a lifting capacity of 104 tonnes, the AUS$32.4 million ($22.5 million) crane investment aims to provide improved break-bulk and project cargo handling capability for customers at Port of Newcastle.
The cranes were opened by the port’s CEO, Craig Carmody, and Macquarie Group Managing Director and CEO, Shemara Wikramanayake.
READ: New mobile harbour cranes to uplift cargo capacity at Port of Newcastle
“For Port of Newcastle, the arrival of the mobile harbour cranes marks a significant step forward in our aim to diversify for the future,” Carmody said.
The Port of Newcastle Hydrogen Hub, part of a broader clean energy precinct, is being developed with a phase one minimum 40MW electrolyser that over time could increase to a capacity of over 1 GW.
The first stage of AUS$3 million ($2 million) feasibility study into the development of a green hydrogen hub at the Port has now been concluded according to the port’s statement.
READ: Green hydrogen hub at Port of Newcastle receives $41 million funding boost
“As the gateway to the second largest city in New South Wales, the Port will continue to play a key role in the future of the Hunter as a key region for economic growth,” said Wikramanayake.
The port released that Macquarie manages a 50 per cent shareholding in the Port of Newcastle and is assisting the port in its realignment away from its historic reliance on coal export.
“The new container and bulk services initiative, together with the broader clean energy precinct, represents a significant opportunity for the Hunter region to diversify, decarbonise and support the development of jobs in emerging industries,” commented Wikramanayake.
