APM Terminals unveils State-Of-The-Art Super Post Panamax Cranes in Port Elizabeth

NEW YORK : The successful commissioning of two brand-new and advanced super post-Panamax ship-to-shore (also known as STS cranes has been announced by APM Terminals Elizabeth. The cranes have a 23-container outreach that can accommodate ultra-large container vessels (ULCVs) as well as Neo-Panamax vessels.

All testing has been finished, and the cranes are ready to handle the largest ships visiting US East Coast ports, that is capable of loading up to 18,000 TEUs. The new cranes will boost production by allowing work on many large ships at the same time, explained Henrik Kristensen, the MD of APM Terminals Elizabeth.

This saves port stay time and also speeds up our customers’ supply networks. The additional capacity we are bringing to the Ports of New York and New Jersey is consistent with the industry trend of utilizing larger container boats that are more efficient and reflect an environmentally friendly approach to ocean shipping.

The first of six new cranes has arrived
The two new cranes are among the first of six to be added to the already existing four cranes capable of dealing with ultra-large container vessels as part of a USD70 million upgrade investment.

APM Terminals Elizabeth will boast 10 identical super-post-Panamax cranes by 2025’s first quarter, allowing for improved standardization of operations and raising efficiency and reliability standards. The terminal already has four identical super-post Panamax cranes in operation, bringing about 14 cranes along the 6,000-foot-long quay.

Cargo volumes are at an all-time high
After nearly a year of record cargo volumes, progress will be made with major capacity upgrades with meaningful collaboration with stakeholders across the supply chain for further growth in the years to come.

The Port of NY & NJ had handled over 6.5 million TEUs year as of October 2023, with APM Terminals Elizabeth making up roughly a quarter of the port’s container volume during the same period.

The new cranes are part of a USD200 million terminal upgrade project. Berth-area reinforcements, a revised gate facility, advanced trucker appointment system, and crane procurements enhanced the vessel lift capacity of the terminal from about 900,000 to more than 1.5 million lifts per year.