Gottwald supplies 100t pontoon cranes for Mississippi River runs

Two model 8 variant G HPK 8400 B floating cranes will be used for the transshipment of bulk goods, including ores, coal, cereals, and fertilizers. They will support the work of an existing fleet.

A Demag subsidiary, Gottwald has made use of what they believe is the highest performance 63t grab curve that Demag Cranes has ever installed on a floating crane, enabling the crane to handle up to 1,850t of bulk material per hour.

Each G HPK 8400 B has also been fitted with an EU approved verifiable weighing system that Gottwald says is more precise than conventional load measuring techniques. The stevedoring firm has already submitted the verifiable weighing system for approval by the equivalent US testing authorities.

Referring to the new technology, St James Stevedoring Partners’ president, Paul Morton, said, “Thanks to this innovation, in the future we will be able to offer our customers complete transparency with reference to the transhipped goods.

He continued: “With our two new Gottwald floating cranes, we aim to achieve a flexible increase in our cargo handling capacities and usefully extend our existing logistics. Our customers expect rapid handling of their cargo despite increasing volumes. This goal can only be achieved with high-end cranes, handling rates and reliability.”

The cranes make use of diesel-electric hybrid drives to reduce fuel consumption and lower emissions to aid in the port industry’s drive for ‘greener’ operations.

Demag Cranes AG COO and member of the management board, Thomas H. Hagen, commented: “Thanks to their high performance and versatility, our floating cranes are becoming more and more established in the market, as shown again by the follow-up order received from St. James.”