The Zhen Hua 26 enters Port of Rotterdam with 5 container gantries for the Amazonhaven ECT Delta Terminal. Photo courtesy Port of Rotterdam via Twitter
The Port of Rotterdam over the weekend saw the arrival of nine Super Post Panamax container cranes in three separate shipments from China, marking the first time ever that nine Super Post Panamax cranes have been delivered at the same time to a port by the builders.
In a statement Monday, the Port of Rotterdam said that the nine cranes arrived onboard three ships from China, including seven cranes that were built by ZPMC and two by Kalma.
The seven cranes from ZPMC were divided into two shipments aboard the Zhen Hua 14, carrying two cranes for the new Rotterdam World Gateway (RWG) terminal, and the Zhen Hua 26, which is expected to start unloading 5 cranes at the ECT Delta Terminal on Tuesday. A third ship, the Cosco Da Kang, started unloading the remaining two cranes from Kalma for the APM Terminal Maasvlakte on Sunday.
Unlike the ZPMC cranes, which were delivered fully assembled, the Kalmar cranes were delivered in parts and will require assembly at the terminal.
RWG expects a shipment of 14 more cranes in February, while the ECT Delta Terminal has an additional 6 on order. During the first phase of the terminal, the APM terminal will have 8 cranes at its disposal.
The Super Post Panamax cranes are able to handle the world’s largest containerships, with the ability to reach across vessels up to 25 containers wide, and stand 135 meters tall with their arm raised.
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