APMT raises crane height 33 feet at LA's Pier 400 to handle ULCVs
GLOBAL port operator APM Terminals (APTM) is to invest US$40 million to raise cranes 33 feet (10 metres) at Pier 400 in the Port of Los Angeles to dock ultra-large containerships.
The crane heightening project is designed to prepare for regular calls from ultra-large containerships from Asia, capable of carrying up to 20,000 TEU.
By contrast, the largest vessels currently serving at the Port of Los Angeles clock in at around 13,000 TEU, the American Shipper reported.
The company said in a statement that it has raised the first of 10 ship-to-shore (STS) cranes at the terminal 33 feet, making it the tallest port crane in North America.
APMT, which is also installing LED illumination on the STS cranes, said it expects the first to be ready for vessel operations in the next few months.
The LED lighting system will improve operator visibility and the accuracy of the cranes' optical character recognition (OCR) programmes, as well as using 60 per cent less energy than conventional lighting systems.
"The Los Angeles crane extension project, representing an investment of US$40 million keeps APM Terminals at the forefront of infrastructure improvement and upgrades in US port operations," said APMT chief executive Kim Fejfer.
"Our aim is to enable global trade through the safest, most efficient technology available for reliable port operations," he said.
GLOBAL port operator APM Terminals (APTM) is to invest US$40 million to raise cranes 33 feet (10 metres) at Pier 400 in the Port of Los Angeles to dock ultra-large containerships.
The crane heightening project is designed to prepare for regular calls from ultra-large containerships from Asia, capable of carrying up to 20,000 TEU.
By contrast, the largest vessels currently serving at the Port of Los Angeles clock in at around 13,000 TEU, the American Shipper reported.
The company said in a statement that it has raised the first of 10 ship-to-shore (STS) cranes at the terminal 33 feet, making it the tallest port crane in North America.
APMT, which is also installing LED illumination on the STS cranes, said it expects the first to be ready for vessel operations in the next few months.
The LED lighting system will improve operator visibility and the accuracy of the cranes' optical character recognition (OCR) programmes, as well as using 60 per cent less energy than conventional lighting systems.
"The Los Angeles crane extension project, representing an investment of US$40 million keeps APM Terminals at the forefront of infrastructure improvement and upgrades in US port operations," said APMT chief executive Kim Fejfer.
"Our aim is to enable global trade through the safest, most efficient technology available for reliable port operations," he said.