The Port of Great Yarmouth has taken delivery of a new state of the art crane giving it greater capabilities to handle larger cargoes on the east coast.
A significant venture by owner Peel Ports Group, the new crane with a 84 t lifting capacity will allow the port’s customers to further utilise its 24-hour deep-water facility which is able to handle larger volumes of bulk and unitised cargo.
The improved facilities will allow Great Yarmouth to continue to provide a reliable and competitive service to customers, as an increasing number of shipping providers are choosing to utilise east coast ports.
Richard Goffin, Port Director at Great Yarmouth said: “The state-of-the-art crane marks our latest investment into the development of the port at Great Yarmouth, which also included the integration of the river port and deep-water harbour which were acquired in 2015.
“Great Yarmouth handles supplies for a variety of industries handling bulk goods, including the offshore, renewable, decommissioning, agri-bulk and aggregates markets, with the new crane allowing us to service greater amounts of cargo in a shorter amount of time, providing a more productive and flexible solution to our customers.”
The LHM280 crane – which has been purchased from Liebherr – is capable of turning over up to 35 Cycles per Hour, bringing increased cargo handling capabilities and allowing for mobilisation and demobilisation processes to be shortened.
Among those benefitting from the investment is ASCO, the leading materials management and logistics company for the global energy industry.
Glenn Hurren, UK Managing Director at ASCO, said: "It is highly encouraging to see the continuous improvement and investment in infrastructure at Peel Ports. The new state-of-the-art crane will provide further operational efficiencies and enhance our UK Southern North Sea operations. Our customers will benefit from the increased handling capabilities and shorter timescales for the mobilisation and demobilisation of cargo."
The increased port capabilities will also cut down onward journey times for construction companies using the port, bringing them closer to areas of development along developments such as the Cambridge corridor.
For the growing number of offshore energy providers using the port at Great Yarmouth, the powerful hydrostatic transmission and advanced electronics ensure short, productive working cycles for companies transporting bulk items.
Cllr Graham Plant, leader of Great Yarmouth Borough Council, said: “As a council we are working alongside Peel Ports Great Yarmouth, with excellent support from the county council and LEP, to maximise opportunities for investment, job-creation and growth associated with the port.
“This new crane is yet more welcome private sector investment in the Outer Harbour and it will further enhance the port’s capabilities, helping to attract new business to the borough and region while benefitting existing port users, many of which are based locally.”
Source: Peel Ports