New cranes boost Santos terminal capacity

The new cranes will expand BTP’s quay equipment capacity by 25%, improving its ability to handle larger vessels with greater safety and efficiency at South America’s largest port in Brazil.

This addition is part of a $330 million investment plan for the coming years to advance the terminal’s decarbonisation efforts.

The new cranes, manufactured by ZPMC, stand 94 metres high, with a reach of 19 meters below the quay and a boom length of 70 metres. This reach enables them to position containers up to 25 rows across on ships and handle loads of up to 65 tonnes with a spreader.

These electrified cranes support BTP’s carbon-neutrality goal for 2030, featuring advanced safety technology like TPS (Truck Positioning Systems) and LCPS (Container Stack Profile Identification Systems) to prevent collisions.

“Our focus is on preparing BTP for another 20 years at the Port of Santos. We aim to increase operational capacity by over 40% in the coming years, creating a more efficient, sustainable, and innovative terminal ready for the next generation of vessels calling at Santos,” said BTP Operations director Ricardo Trotti.

The two new cranes are scheduled to become operational by February 2025, bringing BTP’s total fleet to 10 fully operational Super Post-Panamax cranes. BTP, one of South America’s largest container terminals, will acquire two additional cranes in the coming years, reaching a total of 12 quay cranes.