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Giant cranes arrive in Liverpool after three-month voyage from Shanghai

Xinhua, November 3, 2015 Adjust font size:

A 30,000-km ocean journey between two of the world's greatest ports, Shanghai and Liverpool, ended Monday when a giant vessel bearing five "megamax" quayside cranes arrived in a mist-blanketed River Mersey.

The vessel was carrying the first of eight giant cranes, built in China, and destined for the Liverpool's new 462-million-U.S.- dollar container terminal, known as Liverpool 2.

The voyage started in Shanghai in August, passing southeast Asia, India, the Arabian Peninsula and Africa via the Cape of Good Hope en route to Liverpool.

The super-structures were produced by Chinese company, Zhenhua Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. (ZPMC), the largest heavy duty equipment manufacturer in the world, as part of a contract with Peel Ports worth over 154 million U.S. dollars. A total of eight ship-to-shore megamax cranes and 22 cantilever rail-mounted gantry cranes are being supplied as part of Peel's investment program to expand and develop the existing Port of Liverpool to enable it to accommodate the world's largest container ships.

Each crane measures 92 meters high to the top of the frame, approximately the same as Liverpool's most famous building, the Royal Liver building, rising to 132 meters high when the boom is raised. Each crane weighs around 1,600 tonnes.

A spokesman for Peel said Monday: "Liverpool 2 is the UK's largest transatlantic deep-sea port and container terminal and the investment in facilities will allow it to accommodate the majority of the world's current container fleet, including vessels up to 20,000 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units) or two 13,500 TEU vessels simultaneously."

Mark Whitworth, chief executive of Peel Ports, said: "The spectacular sight of these cranes sailing up the Mersey to the L2 site is unprecedented."

The cranes will have the ability to operate at speeds in excess of 30 moves per hour and will facilitate an anticipated 1,500 moves in each tidal window. They will be capable of twin-pick and outreach of 24 containers up to 10 high on deck, and safe working loads of up to 85 tonnes. They will also have the ability to operate in wind speeds of up to 88 km/h.

Peel's spokesman added: "Peel Ports' investment in Liverpool 2 will strengthen the growing infrastructure of the Northern Powerhouse to create a gateway into the north of the country... citing the area's important trading links and outstanding pedigree in food and drink, fashion, automotive and aerospace." Endit