Chinese port equipment manufacturer ZPMC has said it will deliver a total of 25 rubber tyred gantry (RTG) cranes to the Hugh K. Leatherman Terminal in South Carolina, as part of South Carolina Ports (SC Ports) expansion plans.
The company confirmed in an online update on 21 November 2020 that it had delivered two batches of port equipment in November
The first included two STS cranes, which were unloaded within three days. The second saw three more STS cranes and four RTG cranes unloaded, with the coordination of ZPMC North America.
Due to the health and safety restrictions amid the COVID-19 pandemic, ZPMC said it applied the girder-lowering technique during both deliveries to ensure regulations were followed.
The expansion of the terminal is one of the largest maritime infrastructure projects in the US. Phase One of the terminal will add 700,000 TEUs of annual throughput capacity to the Port of Charleston. Once completed, the three-berth terminal will double S.C. Ports current capacity by adding 2.4 million TEUs of throughput capacity.
Furthermore, it complements efforts to modernise Wando Welch Terminal and deepen Charleston Harbor to 52 feet. These investments will enable S.C. Ports to handle four 14,000-TEU vessels simultaneously in 2021.
Despite numerous restrictions ZPMC has continued to deliver port equipment throughout 2020 and in some cases has ventured into new markets.