The Port of Savannah has added four electric Konecranes ship-to-shore (STS) cranes as part of Georgia Ports Authority’s (GPA’s) USD1.9 billion infrastructure improvement plan.

The four new Super Post-Panamax STS cranes replace four older cranes, which are being retired and recycled.

Two 306 ft. (93 m) cranes will operate at Garden City Terminal’s Berth 1, while two 295 ft. (90 m) cranes will be installed at the upriver end of the terminal, at Berth 9.

GPA president and chief executive officer Griff Lynch says: “Along with the completion of our project to improve Berth 1, these cranes will help deliver faster turn times to our ocean carrier customers, including the largest vessels calling on the US East Coast.

“No other terminal in the nation can bring more cranes to bear, or match the efficiency, productivity and global connectivity of the Port of Savannah.”

GPA received four cranes in February at its recently renovated Berth 1, which is now capable of serving vessels with a capacity of 16,000+ twenty-foot equivalent container units (TEUs). The cranes and improved dock increase Garden City Terminal berth productivity by 25% or 1.5 million TEUs of annual capacity.

In Florida, legislators presented the Jacksonville Port Authority (Jaxport) with a USD30 million cheque to purchase two new STS cranes.

“The acquisition of these cranes will increase the efficiency and capacity of Jaxport, improving vessel turnaround and supply chain efficiency,” Florida House Speaker Paul Renner says. 

Meanwhile, the Port of Duqm in Oman has commissioned four Liebherr STS cabinless container cranes, the Dubai-based Maritime Standard reports.

The new quayside cranes are supported by a fleet of 12 Liebherr rubber-tyred gantry cranes, as well as several forklifts.

The new cranes are part of a dedicated container terminal being developed in Duqm. The appointment of an international terminal operator to run the facility in partnership with the Asyad Group is expected soon.