APM Terminals (APMT) Pier 400 in Los Angeles has taken delivery of three new state-of-the-art cranes to enhance its capacity to handle large vessels.
These larger ship-to-shore (STS) cranes are set to boost operational efficiency, potentially saving up to 14 hours per vessel while modernising the terminal’s crane fleet to meet current and future demands.
The cranes arrived on the Zhen Hua 26 carrier after a 30-day journey across the Pacific Ocean.
Designed to accommodate the world’s largest container ships, these cranes boast a reach of over 223 feet, enabling operators to handle 23 containers across in a single sweep. This extended reach eliminates the need to switch cranes when accessing the top rows, streamlining operations and reducing turnaround times for vessels calling at the terminal.
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“These cranes aren’t just machines; they are investments in the economy of Los Angeles and the broader US supply chain,” said Jon Poelma, Managing Director of APMT Pier 400.
“Every container we handle represents jobs, commerce and growth.”
Standing at 294 feet tall, the new cranes can service vessels of up to 18,000 TEUs, lift up to 100 tons, and are expected to perform 100,000 cargo lifts annually throughout their 20-plus-year lifespan.
These upgrades align with the terminal’s commitment to meeting the increasing demands of global trade and accommodating the trend towards larger ships designed for greater efficiency.
By replacing smaller, older cranes, the new additions allow Pier 400 to maximise its 19-crane fleet. The terminal will now be able to operate at full capacity on larger vessels while maintaining flexibility to serve smaller ships, benefiting both shipping lines and landside customers.
Earlier this year, APMT unveiled a significant upgrade of its terminal operations fleet to electric vehicles at Pier 400.
