Port Everglades is awaiting the arrival of six new Post-Panamax gantry cranes, which at the time of writing are being transported across the South China Sea, according to an online update.
The new gantry cranes have been built by Chinese manufacturer Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Co. Ltd. (ZPMC) and have cost $41.4 million. They are part of a wider project from PortEverglades to improve its infrastructure, which includes an upgrade to its existing crane fleet.
They have a reach and lift capability of 22 containers wide and seven containers high on deck. Additionally, it has a backreach of 0.6m with boom fully extended and a capacity of 65 long tonnes. They are due to come into operation in the autumn of 2020.
Upgrades to existing infrastructure include enhancing the handling capability of its current fleet in order to meet the demands of larger ships and greater trade volumes.
In July 2020 the Port unveiled a 20-year plan as it looks to position itself as a major East Coast gateway. The new cranes and upgrade to exisiting infrastructure will account for a significant part of it. In addition to the ones on their way, the Port has an option to buy three more cranes of the same make and capabilities.
It is the latest achievement from ZPMC, which has continued to supply the world’s largest ports despite the effects and limitations of the COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier in the year it unveiled a next-generation straddle carrier which it will soon put on the market.
