Member Article

Peel Ports signs £100m contract for 'mega-cranes' at Liverpool2

Peel Ports Group has signed a multi-million pound deal with Shanghai-based Zhenhua Heavy Industries Co. (ZPMC) for 17 ‘mega cranes’ for its new £300m Liverpool2 container port.

ZPMC will initially supply five ship-to-shore (STS) quay cranes and 12 cantilever rail-mounted gantry cranes (CRMGs) in phase 1 of the project and a further 3 three STS cranes and 10 CMRGs in phase 2.

The contract is a major step forward in the construction of what will be one of Europe’s most advanced container facilities, scheduled to open at the end of 2015.

The combined handling capacity of the five ‘megamax’ STS cranes and 12 CRMGs will dramatically increase the port’s productivity and efficiency, delivering major benefits and cost-savings for customers using the Port of Liverpool as their UK gateway.

Mark Whitworth, chief executive of Peel Ports Group said: “These cranes are a vital element in making Liverpool2 among the world’s fastest, most efficient container ports. The fact that we’ll be able to handle 90% of the global fleet at the Port of Liverpool will be a true game-changer for shipping lines. The cranes will help future-proof the UK’s most centrally positioned deep water port for growth.

“Combined with our recent multi-million pound investment in the world-leading Navis N4 terminal operating system, the facility will dramatically cut transfer time from port to road or rail, maximising our productivity.

“It’s a significant investment for the long term and the most important development at the Port of Liverpool in the last 20 years.”

Mr. Liu Qizhong, Senior Vice President of ZPMC said: “The specification set out by Peel Ports was extremely demanding. It is clear their ambition to set new standards in port handling technology is a serious one. The combination of deep water and cutting edge technologies sets a new standard for ports innovation in Europe.”

ZPMC, the largest heavy-duty equipment manufacturer in the world, has chosen to site its UK service centre in Liverpool, to coincide with the arrival of the cranes in 2015. Specialist engineers will provide round-the-clock operational support to ensure proactive and real-time service and maintenance, ensuring maximum productivity from the Liverpool2 terminal at all times.

The world-leading megamax cranes will enable the port to simultaneously handle two post-Panamax vessels (up to 13,500 TEU) on the Liverpool2 berth.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .