Port Everglades officials, partners, and elected representatives inaugurated three new Super Post-Panamax container gantry cranes.
Standing tall at 53 meters, these cranes are poised to elevate the operational efficiency of the South Florida port to new heights. Presently, Port Everglades ranks among the top 25% of ports globally for operational efficiency, as per the latest Container Port Performance Index by the World Bank.
According to a statement, distinguished by their extended reach and enhanced load-bearing capabilities, the Super Post-Panamax cranes are adept at handling containers stacked eight high from a ship’s deck and can span 22 containers across the deck. This stands in contrast to the port’s previous seven Post-Panamax cranes, which stood at 46 meters and were limited to handling containers stacked six high, reaching across 16 containers.
With the addition of these three new cranes, Port Everglades now boasts a total of 13 container gantry cranes, comprising six Super Post-Panamax and seven Post-Panamax cranes, alongside one mobile harbour crane.
“With the commissioning of the new cranes, our historic US$471 million project for the Southport Turning Notch Extension is nearly complete. However, we’re not here to just celebrate cranes,” he said. “We applaud the investment that our Board of County Commissioners made throughout the years to build up the port’s infrastructure, which benefits the men and women who work these docks and the regional economy,” stated Glenn Wiltshire, acting director of Port Everglades.
The ceremony featured a moment of reflection, paying tribute to the six individuals who tragically lost their lives in the Port of Baltimore bridge collapse. Additionally, it honoured the countless others at the port and within the community who have been impacted by this incident.