New Crane Lifts Capacity at Foynes

PRESS RELEASE

Shannon Foynes Port Company is pleased to announced that a new Gottwald HMK 170 EG 240 tonne mobile port crane has been commissioned and is now operational alongside the existing three port cranes.  The 240 ton crane has a maximum lifting capacity of up to 63 tonnes at a reach of  20 metres and is suited to general hook and grab work as well as container handling. The port now has two 63 ton Gottwalds, a 35 ton Liebherr and a 31 ton Nelcon crane available.

At a cost of over €2 million, the new crane has a number of state-of-the art features which ensure maximum operating efficiency; the drivers cab, for example, is situated almost 20m above ground level, providing for excellent visibility, while the diesel electric drive system minimises noise pollution. The crane, with its high capacity 18 m3 grab, will assist customers in minimising turn-around of vessels; the extra crane will also permit larger vessels to be worked with multiple cranes, thus significantly reducing costs for such vessels who can avail of the company’s unique deep-water berths. Importers and exporters will gain substantial economies of scale in utilising such higher capacity vessels.

This will not only cater for anticipated growth in the future, but will also further enhance our service flexibility. So far in 2006, we have only recorded a total of 21 hours equipment downtime, and 16 hours of waiting time for requested crane allocations, while servicing 152 vessels to the end of April.

 A summary of the benefits: 

• Port discharge and loading capacity increased by up to 45%

• Ability to work larger vessels using two cranes

• Ability to work up to four bulk vessels simultaneously

• Enhanced ability to cater for heavy-lift cargoes utilising two high capacity cranes

• Reduced or eliminated wait times for preferred cranes

• Increased productivity in container handling