P&O Ports Antwerp has ordered a ship-to-shore (STS) container crane from Kalmar, for delivery in June 2004. Although compact, with 40m outreach, 15m railspan and 21m backreach, the crane has a 65t lifting capacity under the twinlift spreader. It will be made in Rotterdam by Nelcon, which Kalmar acquired in March 2001.
P&O Ports Antwerp managing director Paul Valkeniers said: ‘Seven manufacturers participated in the tender. We placed major value on performance, design and after-sales support. Technically, an important consideration was the fact that we required very low wheel loadings… The satisfactory performance of the two existing Kalmar Nelcon cranes (originally delivered to Allied Stevedores and presently each handling 120,000 moves per year) helped swing the deal in Kalmar’s favour.’
