Cartagena boosts its handling capacity

The new Liebherr LHM 600 port crane has entered service at the Compas Cartagena terminal, supporting container operations at a facility handling up to 250,000 teu annually across four berthing positions.

“This investment strengthens our ability to serve shipping lines and cargo owners more reliably as trade volumes continue to evolve,” a Compas representative said.

“By expanding handling capacity within our existing footprint, we are reinforcing Cartagena’s role as a stable and efficient gateway for Colombian foreign trade.”

Expanded capability

The investment expands handling capability within the terminal’s existing footprint as cargo volumes and vessel sizes continue to evolve across Colombian trade routes.

With a lifting capacity of 104 tonnes and a maximum outreach of 61 metres, the mobile harbour crane enables the terminal to handle wider container vessels, heavy container moves and twin-lift operations.

Mounted on a mobile undercarriage, the port equipment can also be reassigned between berths to support changing traffic patterns and operational requirements.

Compas Cartagena operates as a multipurpose terminal supporting container, bulk, refrigerated and project cargo activities.

The addition of the LHM 600 is expected to improve berth utilisation and support smoother vessel turnaround during peak operating periods by reducing bottlenecks across parallel cargo flows.

The terminal’s infrastructure also includes certified cold storage facilities and non-intrusive inspection systems capable of scanning up to 150 containers per hour.

Liebherr said the crane has been integrated with the terminal’s digital operating systems to support long-term operational continuity and predictable equipment availability through regional service and maintenance support.