London Gateway’s 138m quay cranes are on their way to the UK’s new deep water container port, it was announced earlier this week.

The first three of London Gateway’s quay cranes, manufactured by Shanghai’s Zhenhua Port Machinery Company (ZPMC), have started their journey from China to the UK’s new deep water container port.

The crane’s boom has a reach that will allow it to pick up containers 25 rows across deck. The cranes weigh 1,848t and have a maximum lifting capacity of 80t. The cranes are semi-automated providing quick and efficient handling of containers, London Gateway, which is operated by DP World, stated. They are also connected directly to the Terminal Operating System, which tracks the containers and sends work orders to the crane operator.

Tim Halhead, London Gateway operations director said: “The size of the cranes future proofs the port, allowing London Gateway to handle the next generation of ultra large container ships. These cranes are among the most advanced in the industry, assisting our operatives to deliver a reliable and consistently high level of productivity.”

The port will start operations on the first berth in the last quarter of this year with five quay cranes, and two rail mounted gantry cranes provided by ZPMC, while Cargotec will provide 10 automatic stacking cranes and 18 straddle carriers for the first berth.

Giant quay cranes to arrive at London Gateway