New cranes to take Warrenpoint traffic surge

Finnish lifting equipment firm Konecranes said that “the new crane will from September [this year] … contribute to a significant improvement of efficiency and increase capacity of Warrenpoint’s handling activities”.

The Model 3 Mobile Harbor Crane destined for the port, Northern Ireland’s second biggest, is a G HMK 3405 two-rope variant and offers a lifting capacity of up to 100 tonnes and a maximum outreach of 46 metres.

Clare Guinness, the port’s chief executive, said that it will ensure that Warrenpoint Port keeps providing high customer service standards, as well as helping it to attract new business in order to increase its annual throughput to more than 4m tonnes.

The crane will also permit boosted capacity and efficiency through quicker loading and unloading of goods and decreased downtime, according to Ms Guinness.

“This is the first part of a new significant investment plan at the port following the publishing of our [Port Masterplan 2018-2043] as we gear up for trade in the post-Brexit era,” she said.

The plan, unveiled earlier this year, predicts a continued trade increase after the UK leaves the European Union.

Neil Griffiths, regional sales and service director for Konecranes Port Solutions, said: “The new crane will help Warrenpoint to further benefit from the port’s advantageous geographic situation close to the border with the Republic of Ireland.”