The first two brand new post Panamax ship to shore cranes using Konecranes VLC’s proprietary BoxHunter anti-sway system have begun operations in two Spanish ports.

The system, which uses a complex wire rope reeving arrangement to minimise load sway, and hence speed up the time to position the spreader, has long been used on a smaller scale in container-handling rubber-tyred gantry cranes (RTGs). Konecranes claims the technology will increase capacity by 20%.

Both cranes are part of larger installations in different ports. One of two cranes ordered by the port of Barcelona in October 2001, and one of two cranes ordered by the port of Algeciras in November 2001 are now operational.

‘The system is working, but there is no real data available now,’ said director Mika Mahlberg.

In 2002, Konecranes refurbished two cranes at the port of San Juan and included BoxHunter technology. These Kocks STS cranes were the first to use the anti-sway system.