Israel has welcomed its largest ship-to-shore (STS) crane as the first of potential ten units arrived at the country’s Ashdod Port.
The EUR 9.5 million (USD 10.6 million) crane was delivered aboard the heavy load carrier Zen Hua 23, which is owned by the crane manufacturer Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Company Limited (ZPMC).
The Ashdod Port Company said it had options to purchase a further nine similar cranes.
With a height of 123.5 meters with its arm fully raised and a capacity to load freight weighing up to 95 tons, the crane will be able to handle ships with a capacity of 18,000 TEU, the port said.
The length of the crane’s marine arm is 66 meters, suitable for ships with a width of 59 meters carrying 23 rows of containers.
“The introduction of the largest STS crane in Israeli ports puts Ashdod Port at the forefront of operations and technology, and will enable the company to continue providing the most advanced solution currently available in the field of marine cargo in Israel, with considerable improvement to the port’s output,” Orna Hozman Bechor, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Ashdod Port Company, commented.
The crane is said to be unique to the Ahdod Port as it is equipped with a special hook to lift up to 95 tons of abnormal load.