Moroccan heavy load specialist Somalev Cranes & Logistics has successfully decommissioned two Liebherr ship-to-shore (STS) container cranes at the port of Casablanca.
The company used two Liebherr telescopic cranes, an LTM 1400-7.1 and an LTM 1250/1, for disassembly over 1,400 tonnes of steel structure in a controlled manner as part of the terminal modernisation process. The work at lifting heights of up to 70 metres required precise planning, as it was carried out during ongoing port operations.
According to Liebherr, both machines were selected due to their high load capacities, their flexibility and their suitability for the confined port areas. They enabled the step-by-step dismantling of large components such as boom sections, machinery house and portal elements. Somalev made a deliberate decision for telescopic cranes instead of lattice boom cranes – an approach that allowed flexible adaptation to changing load cases and limited floor space.
Liebherr says that the project was characterised by numerous technical and organisational challenges. The age-related changes to the cranes required conservative load assumptions and reinforced rigging solutions. The entire work had to take place in an active terminal environment where only limited space was available for dismantling. At the same time, clearly defined exclusion zones and permanent coordination with the port authorities and terminal operations were required to ensure a safe and trouble-free process.
The dismantling operation itself was particularly complex, as it had to be carried out in the reverse order of the original assembly operation. The various load cases required different crane configurations and rigging arrangements. Synchronised lifting operations between the LTM 1400-7.1 and the LTM 1250/1 were also necessary in several project phases that required exact planning, precise communication and real-time coordination.
Somalev carried out project-specific risk assessments of damaged components, implemented redundant rigging systems, defined controlled access areas and permanently monitored wind and crane parameters. At the same time, the team applied a flexible execution methodology to be able to react to unexpected structural conditions. Optimised crane configurations made a contribution to reducing the required floor space to a minimum and keeping disruptions to port operations as low as possible.
