The first of two new US$32 million ship-to-shore cranes arrived at the Port of Greenock, marking a significant boost in productivity.
The 932-tonne structure was transported from Cork, Ireland, where it was built, in a one-day journey.
Installation of this crucial infrastructure will commence shortly, with the crane expected to be fully operational later this year after rigorous testing. The new cranes will meet the growing demand from cargo owners, support transatlantic trade growth, and future-proof the port.
“It’s a really special moment to welcome the first of our two new cranes to the Port of Greenock. These two structures will be transformational for the port, significantly expanding our freight capabilities here, and we’re all really excited for having them fully operational later this year,” stated Jim McSporran, port director at Peel Ports Clydeport.
According to a statement, their advanced capabilities have already been instrumental in securing new routes, including a weekly deep-sea container service connecting Scotland to Turkey’s Mediterranean market.
Port operator Peel Ports Clydeport invested US$32m in the two 72m tall ship-to-shore cranes, which have been named ‘U-Crane Bolt’ after Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt and ‘Craner Swift’ in honour of Taylor Swift, following a naming competition with local schoolchildren.
The second of these massive structures is expected to arrive in the coming weeks or months. The US$32 million cranes represent the largest single investment ever made at the container terminal, coming less than a year after the opening of a new US$25 million cruise ship visitor centre at the neighbouring Greenock Ocean Terminal.
