Massive 432-tonne crane arrives in Portsmouth in huge boost for city port's cargo prospects
and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565
International cargo operator, Portico is now one of a handful of UK ports capable of managing the largest loads following the arrival of the 432-tonne mobile lifting device.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThe £3m crane, which was constructed in the Netherlands, is owned by Portsmouth City Council and leased to Portico. It is due to be put up on Sunday.
The mega crane is expected to be used by Portico to support global offshore wind giant MHI Vestas in managing some of the world's largest wind blades when they arrive on bigger vessels.
Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson, leader of the city council said: ‘This planned purchase was brought forward last year because of changes to customers' needs.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad‘Leasing the asset to Portico is both a smart investment move because it means the council has assets which hold value and also it secures the long-term viability of Portsmouth's international cargo operator.
‘For customers such as MHI Vestas it demonstrates our commitment as owners of Portico that we're prepared to make the necessary investments required to future-proof the business.’
The new piece of kit has thrown open the door for lucrative cargo contracts for Portsmouth, which could help boost the city’s economy.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdSteve Williams, Portico operations director said: ‘Our current and prospective customers are moving to larger vessels, so this continued investment means we're able to manage expectations well into the future.
‘It also positions Portico as one of the few UK ports that can offer tandem crane lifts up to 250 tonnes, a specialised technique which provides great options for a variety of cargo requirements.
‘We're the first UK port to invest in this latest tandem lift system technology from Konecranes. It shows we are prepared to invest and helps to continue diversifying and provide flexibility for our customers.’
A message from the Editor
Thank you for reading this story on portsmouth.co.uk. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.
With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.
Subscribe to portsmouth.co.uk and enjoy unlimited access to local news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit our Subscription page now to sign up.
Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.
Comment Guidelines
National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.