BELFAST Harbour has purchased the world's largest hydraulic crane in a £3 million investment to enhance its cargo handling capacity.
Manufactured in Finland, the ‘Mantsinen 300M’ will be the largest crane of its kind operating in any British or Irish port and can manage individual lifts of up to 50 tonnes.
At almost 40m high, the 370 tonne crane, due for delivery in the spring, offers additional flexibility and capacity for Belfast Harbour, which handles over 23m tonnes of cargo annually. It is designed to discharge up to 1,000 tonnes of bulk cargo, such as grain or animal feed, per hour.
Belfast Harbour operations director, Trevor Anderson said the latest investment will "significantly enhance" the cargo handling service at the port.
“The Harbour is the first business in the UK and Ireland to invest in what is the largest crane of its kind in the world. The extra capacity, longer reach and overall versatility will significantly enhance our cargo-handling portfolio. It will also improve vessel turnaround times for customers importing and exporting from the Harbour.”
“In the past 10 years Belfast Harbour has invested £30m in new cranes to enhance the efficiency and productivity of our quayside operations," he said.
The order for the new crane is being managed by Cooper Specialised Handling. The firm’s director, David Cooper added:
“Belfast Harbour should be commended for investing in the latest handling technology. In the past, rope-styled cranes were the only option for handling bulk cargoes and larger vessels, but that has changed thanks to the new generation of hydraulic cranes now available.
“The faster productivity, precise control plus the ability to handle cargo directly without the need for stevedores to operate in person in ships’ holds brings huge operational advantages.”
Belfast Harbour reported a record financial year in 2017, recording a a 6.5 per cent rise in turnover to £61.9m, while operating profit grew by 5.6 per cent to £34m.
The growth in turnover and profits was supported by a 3 per cent increase in port cargo handled to a record 23.7m tonnes, and additional income from the Harbour’s successful property developments in its City Quays river front offices and AC Marriott Hotel, plus new Film Studios on the North Foreshore.
