Hutchison Ports Australia in Sydney has celebrated the introduction of two new container cranes. The customised cranes have the capability to handle over 15,000 TEU and they have a beam of 23 containers width, and a stack-height of 10 containers high on deck. The cranes weigh in a little over 1,800 tonnes, and reported by Hutchison Ports Australia to be the most advanced cranes that can be bought.
The computer-controlled cranes have a hoisting speed approximately 50% faster than existing cranes, and they also feature energy recovery systems. As the hoisting and lowering occurs, the braking force regenerates energy back into the system. The cranes are also fitted with mountings so that solar panels could be fitted in the future.
Immediate use
John Willy, CEO of Hutchison Ports Australia, told guests that the cranes would be put into immediate use as the team of crane drivers are trained up. It is expected that all drivers will be signed off by the end of November.
Looking to the future, Mr Willy commented that “our future investment in cranes will be in more of these cranes and [there will be] a gradual phasing out of the older and smaller units”.
He paid tribute to his team for their hard work in successfully introducing the cranes. “What we’re celebrating today is the result and combined efforts of many people, some of those people are here today… [they] collectively pitched in to make it happen – Operations, Engineering, Finance, I.T., so many [people] were involved. One person I wish to specifically name is my engineering manager who was the project director from the start to the end – Simon Guan.”
He acknowledged the help provided by NSW Ports who helped Hutchison to successfully obtain approval from Sydney Airport (Hutchison’s terminal is approximately 640m from the airport’s runway), the aviation authorities and the Federal Department of Infrastructure.
Customer service
Mr Willy also particularly thanked crane manufacturer ZPMC for all their help, support and customer service. “[They] did an incredible job of maximising the capability of the cranes [and] customised the design for us”.
He also paid thanks to, and emphasised the important of the support of, the ocean shipping companies. He told guests that support from shipping lines helped win backing from HQ for capital expenditure on the new cranes.
NSW Ports CEO Marika Calfas spoke and addressed the guests of Hutchison Ports Australia. She offered her congratulations to the stevedore company for introducing new, environmentally-advanced, cranes.
A raffle was held to determine which shipping line would be the first to have a container lifted by the new crane, which was won by OOCL. A model ZPMC crane was also raffled.
