The Port of Vancouver on Monday said it has bought a second mobile harbor crane, matching the size of its previous crane, which is the largest in North America.
The $4.7 million Liebherr LHM 500S is capable of lifting 140 metric tons — the equivalent of an adult blue whale — and is being built in Rostock, Germany. The port bought its first mobile harbor crane in 2006, and the new one will start its trip to Vancouver in January.
The crane is needed to help manage the increasing load of wind energy-related cargo, the port said in a news release.
“We also expect to be loading more wind energy cargo to rail, which means we need another heavy-lift crane to efficiently move cargo across the port,” Executive Director Larry Paulson said in a news release. “In other words, we’ll be able simultaneously unload vessels with one crane while loading cargo to trucks or rail cars. Additionally, some wind components require two cranes in order to eliminate the possibility of damage. These heavy capacity cranes can also safely handle other large, heavy components without turning the vessel — an important cost saving feature.”
The crane could also attract more wind energy cargo. Operations Manager Mike Schiller said in a news release that longshore crews put in 72,000 work hours on wind energy components in 2007, thanks largely to the presence of the first crane. The International Longshore & Warehouse Union local hired 26 full-time longshore workers due to the wind energy cargo loads, he said.
The $4.7 million Liebherr LHM 500S is capable of lifting 140 metric tons — the equivalent of an adult blue whale — and is being built in Rostock, Germany. The port bought its first mobile harbor crane in 2006, and the new one will start its trip to Vancouver in January.
The crane is needed to help manage the increasing load of wind energy-related cargo, the port said in a news release.
“We also expect to be loading more wind energy cargo to rail, which means we need another heavy-lift crane to efficiently move cargo across the port,” Executive Director Larry Paulson said in a news release. “In other words, we’ll be able simultaneously unload vessels with one crane while loading cargo to trucks or rail cars. Additionally, some wind components require two cranes in order to eliminate the possibility of damage. These heavy capacity cranes can also safely handle other large, heavy components without turning the vessel — an important cost saving feature.”
The crane could also attract more wind energy cargo. Operations Manager Mike Schiller said in a news release that longshore crews put in 72,000 work hours on wind energy components in 2007, thanks largely to the presence of the first crane. The International Longshore & Warehouse Union local hired 26 full-time longshore workers due to the wind energy cargo loads, he said.