Liebherr Container Cranes has commissioned two super-post-panamax container cranes at Khorfakkan in the Gulf, bringing to six the number of Liebherr ship-to-shore cranes in operation at the port.
The two new cranes will work alongside four existing Liebherr container cranes commissioned last year and four rubber tyred gantry cranes (RTGs) from the same manufacturer.
The new cranes are equipped with expandable twin-lift telescopic spreaders allowing the handling of 20ft, 40ft and 2 x 20ft containers. The height under spreader is 34m.
The crane speeds are: 56m/min and 140m/min for hoist; 210m/min for trolley, and 45m/min for travel.
All drives are of the Liebherr Digivert DC Type and the cranes include the Liebherr Winscan crane management system.
Crane erection was carried out a short distance behind the operating track from where the cranes were skidded forward to the track, commissioned and tested being ready for operation within two days of the transfer. The cranes were put to work and immediately achieved the productivity levels of the existing cranes.
This method of delivery proved extremely efficient for both parties with the minimum of disruption to terminal operations.
Liebherr now regards this port as a showpiece for its equipment. Sharjah Ports Authority, which owns the Khorfakkan facility, purchased its first two gantry cranes for Sharjah Port from Liebherr in 1982. The Port Authority ordered the first two post panamax ship-to-shore cranes for Khorfakkan in 1993, with a repeat order for two super post panamax cranes in 1997. The two latest container cranes were ordered last year.
Throughput at the Khorfakkan transshipment hub exceeded the 1m TEU mark in 1999 and continued to increase in 2000.
