Port Solutions sells MHC to Arinaga operator

The Germany-based used port handling equipment trader has sold another mobile harbour crane in Spain; Konecranes Gottwald reports an order for a new G HMK 6507 from Northport Ltd in New Zealand

Last year Port Solutions GmbH, run by Carlos Kohler, sold a nearly-new (just 500 hours of operation) Liebherr 550 in Malabo, Guinée-Équatoriale, to Estibadora Sevillana in the Port of Seville.

Now, it has sold a mobile harbour crane out of the Port of Seville, a Liebherr LHM 250 from the previous generation, to stevedoring company Gramelcan SL in Arinaga in the Canary Islands.

The crane can lift up to 64 tons and has a maximum radius of 38m. Originally supplied in 4-rope configuration as a crane mainly for bulk handling, it has been sold to Gramelcan together with two mechanical grabs.

The LHM 250 is expected to boost bulk handling productivity for Gramelcan

For Gramelcan, the LHM 250 is expected to lead to a 35% increase in productivity in grab mode compared to the crane it has replaced.

Loading the crane onto the chartered geared vessel took just one day in Seville, says Port Solutions, thanks to good collaboration of all participants and the ship’s two powerful heavy lift cranes. It is understood the crane has now been successfully unloaded. The vessel was chartered from Amasus Shipping BV.

All aspects of the sale and purchase agreement, ship charter and (un)loading were managed by Carlos Kohler.

Separately, Konecranes Gottwald has reported an order from existing customer Northport Ltd in New Zealand for a new Model 6 in the G HMK 6507 variant, for the deepwater facility at Marsden Point, on the north island of New Zealand. The crane will be delivered and commissioned in Q1 2020 and will expand the facility’s container handling capacity and help to handle general cargo and bulk materials.

Northport is the northernmost multi-purpose, dry-cargo port in New Zealand, with its three berths handling traffic to and from most of the country’s international markets. Northport is looking to grow, and decided to invest in a new crane to work alongside the Terex Gottwald Model 4 mobile harbour crane it has been operating since 2015.

The existing Model 4 Gottwald HMC at Marsden Point

For Gramelcan, the LHM 250 is expected to lead to a 35% increase in productivity in grab mode compared to the crane it has replaced.

Loading the crane onto the chartered geared vessel took just one day in Seville, says Port Solutions, thanks to good collaboration of all participants and the ship’s two powerful heavy lift cranes. It is understood the crane has now been successfully unloaded. The vessel was chartered from Amasus Shipping BV.

All aspects of the sale and purchase agreement, ship charter and (un)loading were managed by Carlos Kohler.

Separately, Konecranes Gottwald has reported an order from existing customer Northport Ltd in New Zealand for a new Model 6 in the G HMK 6507 variant, for the deepwater facility at Marsden Point, on the north island of New Zealand. The crane will be delivered and commissioned in Q1 2020 and will expand the facility’s container handling capacity and help to handle general cargo and bulk materials.

Northport is the northernmost multi-purpose, dry-cargo port in New Zealand, with its three berths handling traffic to and from most of the country’s international markets. Northport is looking to grow, and decided to invest in a new crane to work alongside the Terex Gottwald Model 4 mobile harbour crane it has been operating since 2015.

Source: WorldCargo News

EIB loans Piraeus €140M

The European Investment Bank (EIB) is loaning Piraeus Port Authority SA (PPA) €140 million to support its future modernisation and expansion programme.

Overall, €611M is being invested in new infrastructure and facilities, which include the decelopment of a new port-based logistics centre and cruise terminal. In addition, the port’s vehicle-handling facilities will be expanded and the existing ship repair facilities improved.

“Recent investment has shown how investment at the port of Piraeus can support economic growth and benefit Greece,” explained Yu Zenggang, chairman of PPA. “The confirmation of the EIB’s support for this latest plan follows detailed due diligence and reflects the broad benefits to be unlocked by the largest investment programme in the history of the port of Piraeus.”

Commenting on the loan, Andrew McDowell, vice-president of the EIB, said: “The redevelopment of the port will strengthen connections between Greece and the rest of the world and ensure that Greece benefits from a world-class maritime logistics hub. We are pleased to provide this loan for the principal maritime hub of Greece and one of the leading port in the Mediterranean region.

He added: “The EIB support reflects the economic benefits to be unlocked in the coming years and the importance of ensuring competitive transport links for Greece and South Eastern Europe.”

The EIB loan, which is for 20 years, is guaranteed by the Exports–Imports Bank of China.

Operations in the port of Piraeus are undertaken by China’s Cosco’s Shipping Ports Ltd which owns 50% of the authority’s shares. In 2018, Piraeus was the second largest port in the Mediterranean basin, but on the back of continuing strong growth in H1 2019, is expected to achieve premier position this year. Over 5M TEU will be processed.

Source: WorldCargo News

Konecranes into Morocco

Konecranes will deliver 16 RTGs to the Tanger Alliance at Tanger Med 2 in just nine months.

The Tanger Med 2 development, TCS is at the rear of the picture.

Now that Hapag-Lloyd joined as an investor, the Tanger Alliance is moving forward to develop the 1.5M TEU TC3 terminal at Tanger Med 2 in Morocco. At the end of October Morocco’s national port authority Marsa Maroc announced Hapag-Lloyd had taken a 10% stake in its subsidiary Tangier Alliance (formerly Marsa International Tangier Terminals S.A). Marsa Maroc still holds its majority 50% plus one share in the company, with Eurogate International GmbH and Contship Italia S.p.A jointly holding a 40% less one share stake.

Tangier Alliance wants to have the new terminal operational in mid 2020, and this was a key factor in Konecranes winning the order. Mr. Said Asbaai, Chairman of the Executive Board of Tanger Alliance said: “Konecranes is known for the excellence of its technology and high-performing cranes. We selected Konecranes RTGs because we believe these machines will help us to reach our ambitious goals. Also, we appreciated Konecranes’ ability to deliver the cranes according to our challenging schedule. They will all be delivered by July 2020.”

The cranes will be delivered in batches with the last ones arriving by mid-July 2020. That Konecranes can manage such a short delivery time this while it has an already large order backlog speaks to how the company has been able to scale up production significantly in recent years.

The cranes will have a lifting capacity of 40 tons, lifting containers 1-over-5 high and 7 container rows wide plus truck lane. Other features include Konecranes Auto-steering system and its “Auto-TOS Reporting”, which reports all container moves to the TOS, enabling accurate yard inventory.

This is Konecranes first order for gantry cranes in Morocco. Adel Issa, Regional Sales Manager EMEA, Konecranes Port Solutions said: “This is a breakthrough for Konecranes in Morocco and I’m pleased to have been a part of it. I wish the Port of Tangier every success as it continues to expand.”

Source: WorldCargo News