Work continues on Port cranes

Production is well underway on three custom-designed Super Post-Panamax container gantry cranes destined for Port Everglades. The cranes, being manufactured in China by Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries (ZPMC), are reportedly the largest low-profile container gantry cranes ever designed and built.

A group of leaders from the Port visited China to see how manufacturing is progressing on the cranes.

Each crane is valued at $13.8 million, and all three are expected to arrive in Florida for commissioning in late September 2020. Port Everglades also has an option to purchase up to three additional cranes.

The cranes are very complex and are custom designed.

“ZPMC is the only company in the world that manufactures this type of crane, which maximizes the reach without extending into the Airport’s flight path,” said Port Everglades Acting Chief Executive Glenn Wiltshire. “ZPMC is making great progress, considering the uniqueness of the design. Our cargo terminal operators are eager to have the cranes operational so they can expand their container volumes.” 

The new cranes are part of the largest expansion project in the Port’s history, which includes lengthening the Southport Turning Notch from 900 feet (274 meters) to 2,400 feet (731.5 meters) to allow for up to five new cargo berths.

The cranes are 175-feet tall (53.3 meters) and are designed as “low profile” with booms that extend out and back rather than raise up, thus staying out of the flight path of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), which is less than two miles away.

The new cranes will have the ability to handle containers stacked nine high from a ship’s deck and reach 22 containers across the ship’s deck.

By comparison, Port Everglades’ existing seven gantry cranes in the Southport area, where most of the containerized cargo operations takes place, are 151-feet high and limited to containers stacked six high and can reach across 16 containers.

In addition to purchasing the new cranes, the seven existing cranes in Southport will be upgraded to a lift capacity of 65 tons from the current 46.5 tons. They will now be able to perform twin-picks — which is lifting two containers at a time — according to Ellen Kennedy, spokesperson for the Port.

Author: Amanda Jones
Author: Amanda Jones

Amanda Jones specializes in social media marketing. She holds a Master's degree in Social Media Management from the University of Florida and a Social Media Professional Certificate from the University of Miami.

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