KCI Konecranes has received a repeat order for a ship-to-shore (STS) container crane to the Port of Kotka, Finland.
The value of the order is more than Euro 4m. Delivery is due in December 2004.
Container traffic has grown over 10% in Port of Kotka during the year 2003. The crane is part of Port of Kotka’s investment program to extend the container handling capacity of Mussalo Container Terminal. Civil works to extend the quay have already started.
KCI Konecranes has previously delivered four container cranes to the Port of Kotka. The latest was delivered in 2002.
‘We have been very pleased with the performance of the cranes and the support we receive from Konecranes’ local service team,’ Port of Kotka managing director Kimmo Naski.
All the four cranes are under KCI Konecranes’ maintenance contract.
The crane is of panamax size with a lifting capacity of 40t and an outreach of 36m. It is similar to the two last cranes delivered. The new crane can operate in 25m/s wind increasing availability of the crane during high wind conditions.
Georgia Port Authority (GPA) in Savannah, USA, has exercised an option and ordered two super post panamax ship-to-shore container cranes from Konecranes VLC. The value of this order is not disclosed, but typically these cranes cost about $6m each. Delivery is due in spring 2005.
The investment is part of GPA’s plan to expand its container handling capacity with a new quay, CB8. ‘Container Berth Eight will expand container capacity at the Port of Savannah by more than 20%,’ said GPA executive director Doug Marchand. ‘When complete, the Port of Savannah will feature more than 3km in linear berthing space, thus increasing what is already the largest single terminal container facility anywhere on the coast from Maine to Texas.’ The new quay is scheduled be in operation next year.
GPA ordered two identical cranes in September 2001, which were delivered in 2003. These two super-post panamax cranes, the world’s largest container crane size, have been in full operation since spring 2003 breaking productivity records for STS cranes in the port.
The new cranes will have a 65t lifting capacity and can handle ships of super post panamax size or 22 containers wide. The cranes are capable of using the twinlift technique for highest production capacity. The crane structure is based upon Konecranes’ new BoxHunter modular design. The outreach of the cranes is 61m, designed for the largest container vessels in the near future.
GPA has become one of the biggest customers for Konecranes VLC in container handling equipment, said Konecranes VLC director for container cranes, Mika Mahlberg. ‘GPA has expanded rapidly since the early ’90s. During these years KCI Konecranes has delivered more than 20 rubber tyred gantry Cranes and nine ship-to-shore Cranes to GPA.’ he said.
