The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) has announced the arrival of three new low-profile, Neo-Panamax cranes at Conley Container Terminal, after a 10-week journey from Shanghai, China.
The new equipment, along with a new berth and a deepened Boston Harbor, enable Boston to handle larger ships, providing New England importers and exporters greater access and connectivity to the global marketplace, facilitating future growth at Conley Terminal, according to Massport’s announcement.
Two of the cranes are the tallest low profile cranes in the world with 62.5 metres height and a lifting height of 48.8 metres, while they reach 22 container rows wide. The other crane is 44.2 metres tall, due to its proximity to the Logan Airport flight path, with a lifting height of 30.5 metres.
The new machines will efficiently service larger container ships holding 12,000-14,000TEU, according to a statement, while larger cranes are needed due to the shipping industry’s shift toward larger vessels that hold more containers.
The ship to shore cranes were built by Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Company (ZMPC), based in China, where nearly 99% of these types of cranes are built and are expected to be operational in the fall after undergoing months of commissioning, which includes inspection, testing and staff training.
