NC Nielsen guarantees every second-hand unit it sells, although the length will vary from customer to customer and from product to product. Most units should nevertheless continue to perform for seven to 10 years, depending on how they are looked after. Before delivery, customers might ask NC Nielsen to re-spray a unit they buy from it or to change the tyres or even deliver it with a cache of spare parts.

The company also undertakes varying types of refurbishment in its own workshops, although uses specialists on things like gantry cranes and straddle carriers, which are not really its core business.

In today’s market, both large and small terminals make use of second-hand equipment.Larger operators may buy second-hand if they are assessing the business potential of a new market. Brand new terminals, which have to raise a lot of upfront capital, may also look to the second-hand market to acquire expensive gantry cranes or reach stackers,while buying cheaper fork lift trucks brand new.

Mr Vernegaard, points out that many terminal operators do eventually have an eye on the disposal of brand new equipment via the second-hand market once a decision has been taken to replace it.

However, how good those units are depends on many factors, including how well the equipment has been maintained, for how many hours it has operated and, crucially, in which regional areas that operation has been carried out. Scandinavian equipment, for example, often has to perform in extreme weather conditions, possibly resulting in longer term chassis problems.

“Most purchasing managers will be aware that equipment will still have residual value even after five or ten years in front line operation. Unlike with cars, for example, port equipment does not depreciate rapidly; it all depends on how it is used.”