Belfast Harbour's Mantsinen 300M

Cooper Specialised Handling has delivered the world's largest hydraulic crane to Belfast Harbour. In a further achievement, the machine was delivered in one piece, which marks a watershed for future deliveries of hydraulic cranes to portside customers for the UK port-equipment supply specialist.

Belfast Harbour is Northern Ireland's principal maritime gateway and logistics hub, serving the Northern Ireland economy and, increasingly, that of the Republic of Ireland. Last year, the Port reported more than 24 million T of cargo handled, including, coal, grain and aggregates.

The new Mantsinen 300M is recognised as the world's largest hydraulic crane and, while these machines can reach 460 T in unladen weight, the Belfast Harbour 300M weighs in at 370 T without attachments. It can lift 30 T steel coils from the far side of vessels that visit the port as well as handle bulk and break-bulk cargo in and out of vessels as large as 36000 dwt.

The new 300M is a wheeled machine, mounted on six axles and 24 rubber tyres. Weight distribution in operating mode has been reduced by four double-pads, each measuring 14 sqm.

The crane will join a Mantsinen 160M, also a wheeled machine, supplied in 2016, which has already become a popular crane, given its speed of operation, reach and capacity.

Michael Robinson, port director, Belfast Harbour, says: "The additional reach, productivity and general versatility of the Mantsinen 300M means it is a very welcome addition to our cargo handling portfolio and will assist in our ambitions to provide our customers with highly efficient and flexible cargo handling solutions. It is an impressive machine and we are delighted to bring yet more modern, cutting-edge equipment for our port customers, having invested more than GBP20 million in new cranes over the last 10 years."

Cooper SH executive director David Cooper says: "The new 300M is much more than a single crane supply. Belfast Harbour, through their experience of the 160, have identified the speed and productivity advantages these types of machines provide and now, with this super-capacity crane, the customer can enjoy the reach and capacity more associated with mobile harbour cranes but with the operational speed of a materials handler.

"This new enhanced productivity will reap dividends for Belfast Harbour and its customers and they should be congratulated for their vision and creativity in selecting this option," he adds.