Above: Liebherr harbour crane arrives at the Port of Hull
A new hybrid Liebherr harbour crane has been delivered to the Port of Hull. The £3.5 million crane purchased by ABP Humber will bolster eco-friendly operations at the port and completes a package of investment made by ABP announced earlier this year.
Having committed to a new 10 year agreement, the crane was secured to support Thor Shipping & Transport’s recent growth in business. The company is now able to work on two vessels simultaneously, meeting the needs of their customers 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
ABP has also purchased two new Bromma container spreaders that will attach to the crane, and Thor has ordered two Kalmar reachstackers to ensure efficient operations.
A hybrid crane was chosen specifically to help future proof operations as the port moves towards supplying its own renewable energy.
The crane was shipped from the Port of Rostock in Germany, fully assembled. Upon its arrival in Hull, a specially constructed vessel used water to lift its platform up and down, making it level with the quayside.
Once the lashings were removed the crane was then driven off the side of the vessel onto the terminal, taking just four hours in total.
Historically, cranes were shipped in their constituent parts and then put together at their destination, a process which can take months to complete and is still used today.
Ahead of the crane’s arrival, ABP Humber undertook works to strengthen over 10,000m2 of the operation area, which will now bear the load of handling containers with reachstackers. Lighting at the terminal was also upgraded from 18m lattice towers to 25m LED highmasts.
Thomas Bryan, Thor Shipping and Transport Managing Director said: “We handle an array of cargo including containers, steel and timber. The new crane will provide support across all areas of our operation and increase our capacity for existing and new customers.”
Simon Bird, Regional Director for ABP Humber said: “A great deal of work has been undertaken at this two-berth terminal on King George Dock, and delivery of the Liebherr harbour crane marks the completion of this investment. We are fully committed to supporting our customers across the Humber ports, helping them to grow their businesses - keeping Britain trading.”
About ABP Humber
The four ports of Grimsby, Immingham, Hull and Goole handle more than 58 million tonnes of cargo between them each year worth approximately £75 billion.
The Humber ports support 34,900 jobs in the region and contributes £2.5 billion to the UK economy each year.
With 364 hectares of development land available across the Humber, the company recently launched their new property website www.property.abports.co.uk.
Grimsby and Immingham form the UK’s busiest trading gateway and move around 50 million tonnes of cargo per annum.
More than £130 million has been invested in Immingham Renewable Fuels Terminal, the specialist biomass handling terminal, in a Humber-wide agreement with Drax Power Ltd that has seen a further £25 million invested in a biomass handling facility in Hull.
The Port of Hull handles 10 million tonnes of cargo per annum and is the focal point for the development of the UK’s largest offshore wind turbine manufacturing, construction, assembly, and service facility, Green Port Hull, which is located on the Port’s Alexandra Dock. This new facility represents a £310 million investment and has created around 1000 direct jobs.
The Grimsby River Terminal represents an investment of £26 million and allows large car-carrying ships to berth outside the port’s lock system. This development confirms the port’s position as one of the UK’s leading automotive handling facilities.
Each year, more than the equivalent of 1 million TEUs (Twenty Foot Equivalent Unit) containers is shipped through ABP Humber ports.
Goole is situated 50 miles upriver and is the UK’s premier inland port. It handles over one million tonnes of cargo annually.