Port of Koper: New cranes for the container terminal
STS super post-panamax container cranes to handle up to 14,000 TEU container vessels to start operating in June 2017
The work on the vessels will be facilitated by two larger and higher capacity STS super post-panamax container cranes to handle up to 14,000 TEU container vessels. The outreach of the current four post-panamax cranes which are used to handle up to 8,000 TEU capacity vessels is 18 containers wide and 9 high above deck, while the two new cranes will allow for 24 containers wide and 11 high. The new super-post panamax cranes are to start operating in June 2017.
In addition to Ship-to-Shore cranes, Luka Koper has also placed the order for two rail mounted gantry cranes (RMG) for container loading/unloading to wagons. The extension of the two current tracks at the Container Terminal and the construction of three new ones has already been underway.
At the end of next year, seven new electric rubber tyred gantry cranes (E-RTG) will operate on the storage facilities of the Container Terminal. These cranes use the electrical power from the grid which significantly reduces the environmental impact in terms of gas emissions and noise.
The cargo throughput at the Container Terminal is increasing from year to year. In the first nine months of 2015 Luka Koper handled 590,270 TEUs which is a 16 percent year-on increase. This growth can be attributed to the global containerisation trend with the increasing portion of cargo being transported in containers. Due to the economy of scale per individual transported unit the shipowners use larger container ships hence the ports that want to stay competitive must adapt accordingly.
Over the next five years, Luka Koper’s investment in the Container Terminal will amount to EUR 235 million in order to preserve the primacy of the largest container terminal in the Adriatic in terms of container throughput per year.