Bilbao terminal boosts crane capacity

The crane, supplied by ZPMC and bought in October 2024, entered service in June 2026 following an investment of €9.5 million.

The equipment is the largest quay crane operating in the Atlantic Arc and joins two existing super post-Panamax cranes already in service at the terminal.

“This new state-of-the-art STS crane, of super post-Panamax size, represents a competitive advantage for container traffic and strengthens our capacity to operate hub services at the Port of Bilbao,” said Juan Ortí, vice-president of CSP Spain, adding that CSP Iberian Bilbao Terminal had invested more than €26 million over the past decade in upgrading facilities and renewing equipment.

Designed to handle the largest container vessels currently operating, the crane features an outreach of 20 container rows, a lifting height of 56 metres and a twin-lift capacity of up to 65 tonnes. It is also capable of lifting up to 83 tonnes under hook, enabling the handling of project cargo and oversized components.

The crane incorporates advanced automation, anti-collision systems, handling assistance technology and energy recovery systems that feed electricity back into the grid, helping to reduce energy consumption and environmental impact.

Ivan Jimenez, president of the Bilbao Port Authority, said the investment would help attract larger vessels and additional shipping services.

“The acquisition of this new crane further consolidates the position of the Port of Bilbao in a sector as strategic and economically significant as container traffic,” he said.

In 2025, the Port of Bilbao handled approximately 4.8 million tonnes of containerised cargo and around 424,000 teu.