THE first of two massive ship-to-shore cranes for the Port of Greenock has arrived.
The 72-metre tall, 932-tonne structure sailed up the Clyde on Saturday on board heavy load carrier Jumbo Jubilee, following a one-day journey from Cork in Ireland, where it was built.
The second crane is due to arrive in the coming weeks.
Work will shortly begin to install the vital infrastructure at the port, and it will be fully operational later this year following stringent testing.
The £25million crane project is the largest single investment made at the container terminal.
Operator Peel Ports say the cranes will help accommodate increased demand from cargo owners, and support growth in transatlantic trade, as well as future-proof the port.
The capabilities of the new cranes have already been key in securing new routes, including a new weekly deep sea container service connecting Scotland to the Mediterranean market of Turkey.
Jim McSporran, port director at Peel Ports Clydeport, said: “It’s a really special moment to welcome the first of our two new cranes to the Port of Greenock.
“These two structures will be transformational for the port, significantly expanding our freight capabilities here, and we’re all really excited for having them fully operational later this year.
“Once installed they will also boost efficiency and bring more opportunities for global connections and worldwide trade into Greenock, further strengthening our position as a major port for importers and exporters.”
