Two purpose-built, post-Panamax ship-to-shore (STS) gantry cranes have been delivered to the Port Authority of Jamaica’s Kingston Freeport Terminal Limited (KFTL).

In a statement, the Government of Jamaica says the cranes are “among the largest of their kind in the Caribbean” and will significantly enhance Jamaica’s capacity to accommodate the new generation of mega-vessels transiting through the expanded Panama Canal.

Port Authority of Jamaica's president and CEO, Professor Gordon Shirley, told local outlet JIS News, the arrival of the cranes marks a major step forward in Jamaica’s efforts to enhance port productivity and elevate its global competitiveness.

“These cranes are the most advanced in the region, and represent a critical upgrade in our port infrastructure,” Shirley says. “They [will] allow KFTL to manage the very large vessels that now dominate global shipping lanes… with much greater efficiency.”

Shirley adds the new STS cranes will facilitate the redistribution of crane capacity across the terminal with the South Berth designated for larger vessels, accommodating the new cranes, enabling the port to efficiently service two mega-vessels simultaneously.

Two of the existing smaller cranes will be relocated to the West Berth, optimising operations for medium-sized vessels.

“This is all about the continued evolution of the terminal,” Shirley continues. "By strategically aligning our equipment with vessel size and berth location, the entire port ecosystem becomes more streamlined and productive.”

The brand of STS cranes and the investment in them, was not disclosed.