Original news was published on 22 October, 2014

A SECOND German-made Liebherr LHM 550 mobile harbour crane is in operation at New Zealand's most southerly box port, joining another that's been in service since 2010, reports the Otago Daily Times, serving the Dunedin area on New Zealand's South Island. South Port NZ Ltd (South Port), located at Bluff, will be used for container handling for Mediterranean Shipping Co, the harbour's biggest customer.

"Six or seven years ago we were handling 8,000-10,000 TEU annually. Last financial year that was up to 32,000 TEU and we are expecting that to increase again in the next 12 months," said South Port cargo chief Geoff Finnerty.

South Port offers a comprehensive service portfolio. A projected containerised cargo increase over the next five years in the southern region called for additional state-of-the-art cargo handling equipment. Growth in agricultural products, most dairy and food, made a second crane was a must, said the company. Said Mr Finnerty: "We have worked with Liebherr since 1995, so a good partnership has evolved.? The crane comes with a twin-lift spreader and tower extension, giving a cabin height of around 29 metres.

"Most of the MSC vessels enter the port light meaning they are high in the water, so the additional height of the cabin and boom pivot were essential components of the order," Mr Finnerty said. There was the 115-tonne undercarriage with its 72 truck wheels and its four stabilisers; the slew housing which contains the winch, engine and other machinery; the 75-tonne tower and the boom. The investment was necessary to cope with increasing cargo volumes and to potentially double container handling capacity over the next five years, Mr Finnerty said.

*NEWS SOURCE