Malta Freeport Terminals has boosted its equipment fleet with four new super post-Panamax quayside cranes from ZPMC of China. The cranes arrived at the Freeport at the end of August, after a two-month barge journey from Shanghai.

Malta takes delivery of four new quay cranes

The new cranes are among the most advanced in the container industry at present. Capable of handling container ships with 24 containers across and of handling twin-lift spreaders simultaneously, they have an outreach of 65.5 m, an air draught of 39 m and a lifting capacity of 65 tonnes. One crane will be installed on Terminal Two, with the other three on Terminal One, where the Freeport had to undertake infrastructure work to fit a new 600 m rail with a 30 m span.

The new units bring Malta’s total of quayside cranes to 20, including 14 super post-Panamax, five post-Panamax and one Panamax unit. The investment is part of a comprehensive development programme aimed at increasing the capacity of its terminals, which is expected to be completed by the end of this year. Since privatisation in October 2004, the Freeport has invested €48m in new equipment and expansion of its yard facilities.