STS BoxHunter crane on barge to Vuosaari

The first Konecranes ship-to-shore crane was delivered by barge to the new Vuosaari container terminal in Helsinki.

Terminal operator Steveco Oy purchased the multi-million dollar STS BoxHunter crane to unload Panamax class ships. The company will take possession of a second crane in the Northern spring.

Tomi Rautio, director of the Vuosaari business unit, says Steveco chose Konecranes because they are their preferred supplier.

"We operate their equipment at our Mussalo container terminal and in Kotka as well."

Juha Aatola, Konecranes director, says the Vuosaari port will have three container terminal operators and Steveco is one of those purchasing STS cranes.

"The others will use old cranes transferred from other ports in Helsinki, which shall be closed down, or will purchased cranes from other vendors," he says. "In total, there will be eight or nine STS cranes."

The crane has a lifting capacity of 50 metric tons (55 tons) and a reach of 38 metres (124 feet). It has the ability to be used for different terminal operating models depending on the needs of different shipping lines.

Rautio says the STS crane is the most suitable for this location because it is equipped with the latest automation systems.

"We expect to receive high efficiency for our vessel operation and short turnaround times for feeder vessels."

Aatola adds this STS crane is designed to handle maximum Panamax-size container ships up to 13 container rows wide.

"The crane is equipped with Konecranes' advanced crane controls and mechanisms designed especially for crane use. The crane trolley is a BoxHunter type with advanced load-handling control," he says. "The crane can store containers between the legs to allow fast unloading or loading. In other words, this is a flexible and right size crane for feeder terminal operations."

The crane was delivered fully erected and taking the crane to full operational mode will take up to four weeks.

Aatola notes that testing and customization will be required, together with local certification.

Rautio adds Steveco will be testing all the terminal operations, including cranes and all yard equipment as well as IT systems before actual operation starts in November 2008.