The first of Georgia Ports Authority’s four new Neo-Panamax cranes started their operations this week, bringing GPA’s operating fleet to 27. The super-sized crane is tall enough to lift containers 152 feet above the dock.
The crane started work on Wednesday on a 13,300 TEU container unit Hapag Lloyd vessel. Crane operators moved an estimated 2,700 containers on and off the ship during its time at the Port of Savannah.
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The second crane will come online next week, and the final two soon. Garden City Terminal will receive another six cranes by 2020, growing the fleet to 36. This will enable the port to move about 1,300 containers per hour over a single dock. The cranes can capture enough energy while lowering boxes to power themselves for 18 minutes of every working hour.
The cranes, along with the Savannah Harbor deepening, will help accommodate the shipping industry’s move toward larger vessels. Through its expanded locks, the Panama Canal can now handle vessels with a capacity of 14,000 TEUs.
