The cranes are capable of handling containers stacked seven rows across, with a lifting height of 18 metres, and a maximum loading weight of 35 tonnes, allowing HIT to handle the largest barges currently in service.
“We have witnessed an average annual increase of 5-6% in barge transhipment traffic from the Pearl River Delta region over the last three years,” said Franco Ning, assistant general manager – operations at HIT.
“The new barge cranes have greater handling stability and will boost productivity by approximately 30-40% when compared with traditional jib cranes. Each crane can handle at least 400 containers a day,” he said.
The cranes, manufactured by Sany Group, involved a total investment of HKD50m ($6.44m).
HIT, part of Hutchison Port Holdings Trust (HPH Trust) listed in Singapore, operates 12 berths at four terminals of Hong Kong's Kwai Tsing container port.
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