Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA) ordered three additional ship to shore container cranes (STS) for the Container Terminal Tollerort (CTT). The new STS cranes can handle the latest generation of mega-ships. At the end of 2017, CTT will have five container STS cranes suitable for ships with a capacity of 20,000 standard containers (TEU) or more.
HHLA has ordered three additional STS cranes for the latest generation of mega-ships. In June 2015 HHLA Container Terminal Tollerort (CTT) placed an initial order for two ultra-modern container STS cranes that can handle the biggest ships in the world. These two ship to shore container cranes will start operating at the end of 2016.
The contract with the company Liebherr included an option for three more STS container cranes of the same type, which have now have been ordered by HHLA. These 3 additional STS cranes are expected to go into operation at Tollerort at the end of 2017. Then the terminal will have five 20,000-TEU STS cranes.
There has been an increase in the number of calls by ultra large container vessels in the last year. In the first half of 2016, 97 ships with a capacity of at least 14,000 TEU docked at the Port of Hamburg – a rise of 83% compared to the same period in the previous year.
Dr. Stefan Behn, member of the Executive Board of Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG, emphasizes the significance of the investment decision. “With five ultra modern 20,000-TEU STS cranes, Tollerort will be ideally equipped to efficiently handle the growing number of ultra-large container vessels and offer these customers of our shipping company the same excellent service that they have come to expect and value. Together with the two 20,000-TEU berths at Burchardkai, we will be able to offer three locations that can handle the biggest ships in the world. This will increase Hamburg’s attractiveness as a port location.”
The recently ordered STS container cranes are the same model as the two STS cranes CTT ordered last year. They have an outreach span of 74 m. and a lifting height of 51.5 m. They are designed for container ships with 24 transverse container rows and can load and unload two 20-foot containers simultaneously when operating in twin mode. The increased height of the STS cranes enables them to handle stacks of up to nine containers high on deck. These specifications make the cranes optimally suited to handle container mega-ships of the latest 20,000-TEU or more class. Each container STS crane weighs 1,500 metric tons and can handle a maximum load of 63 metric tons. In contrast to other STS container cranes, the new cranes with their lattice main beam have a comparatively low overall weight that makes them optimally suited to the requirements of berth 5 at CTT.
Assembly of the first two Liebherr STS cranes at Tollerort started at the end of July. The gear units are ready for operation and two mobile cranes have erected the portals of the first new STS crane. The portals weigh 150 metric ton and are 60 meters high. Both STS cranes are expected to be ready and moved to their operational location at the quay wall in November.
Source: HHLA