The mobile crane can operate throughout the docks on all berths and dry docks as required, offering flexibility to meet requirements for both cargo handling and ship repair.

Weighing in at 144 tons, the Austrian designed and British built crane will be used by A&P Falmouth to discharge bulk cargoes using grabs capable of lifting up to 10m3 and 40 ton lifts on the hook, significantly reducing the time it takes to unload cargo and, importantly for ship owners, the time a ship spends in port.

The new crane replaces two NCK Andes tracked cranes which have unloaded an estimated 1.5 million tons of cargo at Falmouth Docks in 20 years of service.

The increased reach of the new crane enables A&P Falmouth to offer a cargo discharging service to larger vessels and the increased capacity will also mean a wider range of general cargoes can be handled.

The new crane was ordered in June, arrived in pieces in August and was operational a month later.

It features a computerised system that ensures its safe working and continuous monitoring which sends information on its performance and condition directly to the factory in Austria. This information is also used by the drivers and maintenance engineers.

MJInformation No: 21164