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West Africa Container Terminal invests in new equipment

West Africa Container Terminal (WACT), located in Onne Port, has invested in two new Liebherr LHM 550 Mobile Harbor Cranes (MHCs) in response to continued volume growth in the Eastern Nigerian market. The new harbor cranes are due for deployment in July this year and will further boost the efficiency and cargo handling operation of the terminal, improving service delivery and reducing vessel waiting time.  

This is in addition to an investment of approximately USD2.5 million in 10 purpose-built terminal trucks, three reach stackers and an empty container handler, as well as terminal infrastructure and manpower development.

“This latest investment in mobile harbour cranes will help us achieve our objectives and reach our goals. Growth in volume over the last two years have highlighted various infrastructure challenges and we are working with key stakeholders to address them. This is expected to bring a lot more opportunities to us and our customers and grow our businesses,” said Aamir Mirza, Managing Director.

An overall terminal infrastructure upgrade project is expected to commence in 2020. WACT is proactively engaging the Nigeria Port Authority, Oil & Gas Free Zone and other government entities to ensure Onne Port is ready for the future growth opportunities. 

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The new LRS 545-27 Reachstacker travels to Australia

The company Tianqi Lithium operates a new lithium hydroxide plant in the Kwinana Industrial Area in Western Australia. To meet the growing demand for rechargeable batteries and to ensure smooth loading process, a powerful and reliable device is required. Therefore, decision was made to acquire the Liebherr LRS 545-27 Reachstacker. This new machine has a front row capacity of 45 tonnes and can reach up to five containers high. The LRS 545 is also equipped with a fuel-saving 4-cylinder Liebherr diesel engine with 230 kW of power. Moreover, the downsized engine makes it possible to lower the fuel consumption as well as the emissions.

The new Liebherr Reachstacker will be used to prepare the lithium hydroxide, which is stored in containers, for transport all around the world. Two Liebherr XPower wheel loaders were also acquired by Tianqi Lithium. They will also be used on the Kwinana plant. The machines will arrive on the site in July.

Phil Thick, General Manager of Tianqi, said, “We are looking forward to getting the new facility fully on line and producing. The reachstacker and wheel loaders are a small but important part of the overall process here, but it takes all parts to work together to get the result. “

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Hyster begins development of electric reachstacker for Port of Valencia

Hyster Europe is currently developing a zero-emission reachstacker featuring a hydrogen fuel cell for the port of Valencia, as part of the European Horizon 2020 programme and H2Ports project.

“An on-board Hydrogen fuel cell will charge the battery on the forthcoming fully electric Hyster Reachstacker,” said Jan Willem van den Brand, Director Big Truck Product Strategy and Solutions at Hyster Europe. “As the first of its kind, we expect the new Hyster Reachstacker will be able to support continuous operations while providing zero emissions and achieving comparable full shift performance to a conventional IC reachstacker,” he added.

According to Hyster Europe noise levels will be low, and users can expect a reduction in energy costs. The company also expects reduced vehicle maintenance costs thanks to the elimination of the engine, transmission and other mechanical-driven components.

“Achieving zero emissions for container handling equipment at seaports is a substantial challenge.The highly demanding and varied duty cycles in these intense operations make battery recharging time a critical factor.  These and other technical limitations have obstructed the electrification of container handlers or large lift trucks until now,” concluded van den Brand.

The new reachstacker is expected to enter operation in 2021 at the MSC Terminal Valencia (MSCTV) in Spain, where it will undergo thorough testing handling laden shipping containers alongside several existing reachstackers.

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In the Port of Durban, the seven Liebherr LRS 545 reachstackers are working effectively !

Liebherr had delivered seven LRS 545 reachstackers to South Africa’s Port of Durban in December 2017, following an order made by Transnet SOC Ltd, a freight transport specialist . They had been dispatched from the manufacturing site in Sunderland, Great Britain, last February. Thanks to the on-site assembly by Liebherr service engineers, all seven units have already been put into operation in March 2018. After half a year of permanent 24/7 operation, the machines have impressed the South African freight transport company. 

Nene Thubelihle, Regional Supply Chain Manager KwaZul-Natal ( province of South Africa) for Transnet SOC Ltd. said: “The decisive factor for the purchase of a Liebherr machine was to find a reachstacker that could withstand the difficult maritime environmental conditions such as dust and salt that prevail in the port of Durban and defy them permanently. In addition, it was necessary to find an engine that could cope with the deficient quality of diesel fuel in Africa.”

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Two new Liebherr reachstackers LRS 545-35 and LRS Log Handler

During the TOC Europe trade fair, which took place in Rotterdam, Liebherr showcased two new reachstackers models, LRS 545-35 and LRS Log Handler. The first one, lifting 35t in the second container row, is more powerful than this other ones of the same range. The Log Handler has a 30t lifting capacity and its 8,5m telescopic boom stacks height of up to 8,9m.

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Two new Liebherr LRS 545 Reachstackers for the Lyon S.A port terminal in France

Two new Liebherr LRS 545 Reachstackers of the latest generation will be soon active on the Port of Lyon. The first device was handed over in a ceremonial act during the inauguration of the Rognac branch and will be followed by the second before the end of the year. These acquisitions are the result of the desire of Lyon Terminal SA to invest to advance the progressive technical expansion of the port, whose traffic is constantly increasing (approximately 137 000 TEC in 2017). The LRS 545 from Liebherr has a maximum lifting capacity of up to 45t. It is distinguished by its hydrostatic transmission, maneuverability, excellent visibility on the workstation as well as the simplicity of maintenance and low fuel consumption.

Photo : from left to right : Patricia Rüf, Liebherr Member of the Board of Management / Samira Himeur, Head of Development at Lyon Terminal / Anthony Martin-Garin, Divisional Manager Maritime Cranes at Liebherr France, presenting the keepsake at the branch opening in Rognac, France.

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Delivery of a Konecranes reach stacker in the Brest terminal by SNM Heavy Handling

Recently, SNM Heavy Handling delivered a Konecranes Liftace RS-31 reach stacker at the Brest terminal. Fitted with the Lifttace technology powered by Terex, the machine can lift until 45t in first row and 31t in second row. the RS-31 can reach a 15m maximum stacking height, corresponding to a pile of five standard containers. SNM Heavy Handling is part of the SNM Group, which gathers as well SNM Cranes for onshore handling and SNM Lift for access platforms. More info in the next issue of the Move it Magazine …