Crane order helps Savannah stay ahead

The Konecranes STS cranes, which will be delivered in the first half of 2020, have a lifting capacity of 66 tonnes, an outreach of 61 metres and a lifting height of 46 metres above the dock.

“We are making this investment in order to stay ahead of demand as our customers devote larger vessels delivering more cargo to Savannah,” said GPA executive director Griff Lynch.

“By 2020, we will have 18 Neopanamax cranes and the ability to work three 14,000 teu vessels at a single terminal simultaneously.”

Larger vessels and additional container services calling at Georgia’s ports coupled with a positive economic forecast have ushered in an all-time record year for container volume.

The Georgia Ports Authority handled 3.85 million teu in Fiscal Year 2017, which ended in June, 6.7% more than the previous year, or 242,221 additional teu.

“Our volume growth continues to outpace forecasted demand. This new crane purchase, along with the four already on order, will enable GPA to increase crane capacity by nearly 40%,”added Mr Lynch.

The Port of Savannah currently operates 146 Konecranes RTG cranes and 26 Konecranes STS cranes, with four more under delivery in 2018. The six new units will take the total number of Konecranes STS cranes in the terminal to 36.