The German-built LHM 550 cranes sailed into Newcastle Harbour on Tuesday morning, August 2, onboard the general cargo ship UHL Fighter, after leaving the Port of Rostock in late June.

Port of Newcastle CEO Craig Carmody said the $28.4-million investment marks a significant increase in container handling capabilities at the port’s Mayfield 4 berth.

“Industry has been very clear – they don’t want to have to pay more to send their container exports to Port Botany or Port of Brisbane when they could be taking advantage of Port of Newcastle’s enviable road and rail network and potentially save millions of dollars a year,” Carmody said.

“These two new mobile harbour cranes will allow us to move cargo and containers within the limits that the Port Commitment Deeds (PCD) bind us, so that we can give our customers a viable alternative.

“As a global trade gateway and the world’s largest coal export port, diversification isn’t an option, it’s a must, so we are taking what action we can while continuing to advocate for the removal of the PCD.”

The 550-tonne Liebherr mobile harbour cranes feature can handle a diverse mix of project cargo, including wind turbines, timber, steel coils, transformers, and mining equipment.

They also have the capability to work in tandem for heavy lifts and lift two 20ft or one 40ft container in a single move. The cranes will undergo testing over the coming month and are expected to begin operations in September.

Diversification agenda

The crane investment is seen as a critical step forward in the ports’ diversification agenda to unlock trade opportunities within regional and rural New South Wales.

The port’s diversification plans are deeply rooted in the need to adapt to the ongoing global energy transition, pushing it to move away from coal by becoming a deep-sea terminal and a green hydrogen hub.

Source: https://www.offshore-energy.biz/port-of-newcastle-pushes-forward-on-its-diversification-agenda/