Ports and Terminals

Regional trend towards larger shore cranes continues

The trend towards purchasing larger shore cranes has continued in the Caribbean and Latin America in 2013.

After two successful years in Latin America, with 31 machines delivered, the mobile harbour crane company Liebherr reports that customers in Latin America have already ordered four LHM cranes and that the trend towards larger cranes is continuing. The machines on order are the largest in the LHM crane range, says Liebherr. 

Largest on market

The LHM 600, with an outreach of 58 metres and the ability to work vessels of up to 19 container rows in breadth, is said to be the largest mobile harbour crane on the market.

On the Pacific coast of Mexico, the Hutchison Port Holdings affiliate Lázaro Cárdenas Multipurpose Terminal S.A. de C.V. has ordered two LHM 600 cranes. Each is equipped with a 104 tonne winch. They will be used mainly for handling containers and bulk cargo. 

Another LHM 600 crane will begin operating at Manzanillo on the west coast of Mexico in 2013. Terminal Internacionale de Manzanillo S.A. de C.V. (TIMSA), a multipurpose terminal for bulk cargo and container handling, has opted for Liebherr’s most powerful mobile harbour crane. The TIMSA terminal is located close to various metropolitan areas. The main task of the new crane is container handling.

For Leibherr, 2013 already looks to be its most successful year ever in terms of LHM deliveries to Mexico thanks mainly to the order of these three LHM 600 cranes. 

Montecon S.A. began operating in the Port of Montevideo in 2000. Since then, its fleet of Liebherr mobile harbour cranes has grown steadily. This year, Montecon is expected to receive an LHM 600, its second in two years, bringing its fleet of this brand of shore crane to six.

Liebherr’s customers have been showing a preference for the LHM with tower extension because of its higher fulcrum point. In addition, the tower extension helps the crane driver by providing a better view into the ship.