Multiterminais has received two new ship-to-shore cranes for its MultiRio terminal at the Port of Rio de Janeiro, strengthening its ability to handle larger vessels and supporting expansion toward an annual capacity of 1 million TEU, reported Amsterdam's Breakbulk News.

The cranes, supplied by ZPMC, arrived aboard the heavy lift vessel Zhen Hua 15 on 10 June and are now being commissioned with technicians assisting in the installation. Full deployment is expected by August.

The investment, valued at about BRL$110 million (US$21 million), raises MultiRio's crane fleet to seven units. The company stated that the new equipment will allow two large vessels to be worked simultaneously, cutting turnaround times and improving berth productivity.

The arrival of the cranes coincides with shipping lines deploying larger vessels on South America's east coast. MultiRio recently received the MSC Katrina, a 366-meter ship with a capacity of 13,000 TEU, the largest ever to call at Rio de Janeiro.

The crane purchase is part of a wider program linked to MultiRio's concession agreement, which runs through 2048. Planned investments include quay upgrades, storage facilities, gate improvements, 30 rubber-tyred gantry cranes, and five Super Post Panamax portainers.

MultiRio currently operates with an 800-meter berth, a 15.3-meter draft, and a terminal area of 251,000 square meters, handling about 670,000 TEU annually. Capacity is expected to rise to 1 million TEU, a 49 percent increase, enhancing Rio's competitiveness against other Brazilian container hubs.