Ship Technology
APM Terminals MedPort Tangier in Morocco has taken delivery of the first three units of an order for 12 new ship-to-shore (STS) cranes, which will be used to handle container operations at the site.
The cranes have been manufactured by ZPMC in Shanghai, China.
They weigh 2,500t each and can be used to handle vessels carrying 22,000 or more containers during transit through the trade routes between Asia and Europe.
The remote-controlled STS units stand 144m-high when boomed up and have an outreach of 72m with twin-lift / tandem-lift capability.
“The remote-controlled STS units stand 144m-high when boomed up and have an outreach of 72m with twin-lift / tandem-lift capability.”
APM Terminals intends to use the new equipment to conduct fast, safe and efficient loading and unloading services at MedPort Tangier.
The cranes are also expected to ensure increased productivity throughout the cargo-handling process, from lifting a container box off the ship to delivering the same cargo in the yard, and vice-versa.
APM Terminals chief operating officer Keith Svendsen said: “Maersk Line commissioned APM Terminals to build and operate APM Terminals MedPort Tangier so we are designing it around the customer by integrating operational excellence, the most modern cargo-handling equipment and an ideal location for connecting global supply chains.
“This creates the necessary port capacity for the future. Equally important, this port creates another wave of future investment momentum in Morocco as a business and trade centre.”
APM Terminals’ MedPort Tangier site is situated on the Strait of Gibraltar, which handles more than 60,000 vessels annually.
The terminal is anticipated to serve as a trans-shipment hub for Maersk Line and its alliance partners once fully operational.
It is also expected to help improve the performance of the global supply chain by receiving a greater number of vessels and creating additional routing options.