A question of timing

DP World calculates that a spreader typically remains in service for 1.2m-1.5m cycles, equivalent to around 10 years.

One of the Asian operators also concurs that spreaders can operate happily for a decade, but believes that one million cycles is the upper limit.

ICTSI reports that some of its twin-lift spreaders are still operating efficiently after 20 years in operation. “This is made possible thanks to good maintenance practice and careful attention to structural fatigue conditions,” he says.

However, return on investment on a spreader is harder to calculate. Only one of the operators Port Strategy contacted agreed to comment, simply pointing out that, since a spreader is viewed as an integral part of the crane, its ROI had to be calculated in terms of the crane and the spreader being a single unit.