Better known as one of the busiest cruise ports in the US handling over 4.5m passengers a year, Port Canaveral has recently added what is believed to be the largest mobile harbour crane in North America, a 302 ft (fully extended) Liebherr LHM 600, which is due to become operational shortly. It joins two 270 ft ship-to-shore cranes installed at the port since 2014.
With a maximum lifting capacity of 154 tons, lifting height of 148 ft and a jib length of 190ft allowing it an 18-container reach for boxes stacked nine high on deck, the mammoth new crane is able to handle all types of cargo, from containers and bulk/breakbulk to heavy lift project including spacecraft components.
The $6.2m acquisition is intended to better accommodate the port’s growing diverse cargo throughput, adding handling flexibility and extended lift capability, commented the port’s ceo John Murray. “This kind of equipment gives the Port wide ranging deployment options to service current and future cargo demands.”
SpaceX led by ceo Elon Musk is undoubtedly the highest profile cargo customer of the port - which is located close to the Kennedy Space Centre at Cape Canaveral - and is set to become even more so when it begins manned launches.
Falcon rocket boosters are currently recovered after re-entry, landing on drone platforms floating off the Florida coast, but in future it is planned that manned capsules will be scooped from the water by a specially designed vessel equipped with giant nets, to be based at the port.
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