Dubai Ports' giant gantry cranes redefine container handling

The operational efficiency of the giant Tandem Gantry cranes recently acquired by Dubai Ports Authority (DPA) is persuading shipping lines around the world to take into consideration the unique characteristics of the cranes while designing vessel configurations, Saeed Suhail Al Dhafri, Senior Manager, Container Terminals, said while giving a presentation at the Terminal Operation Conference, the world's leading forum for maritime trade, port and terminal professionals, which is being held in Antwerp, Belgium.
 
"The efficiency of the Tandem Gantry cranes acquired by DPA are forcing ship planners worldwide to consider Tandem operations and yard distribution in their formula," Al Dhafri said.
 
"Shipping lines around the world are introducing larger container vessels, and they expect ports to handle these vessels in an exceptionally short time. The gantry cranes more than meet this requirement, while also allowing vessel owners and terminal operators to maximize their revenue by managing more moves," he added.
 
The Chinese-manufactured gantries, which are characterized by their speed and flexibility in handling containers, are the largest of its kind in the world and the first of its type to be installed in the Middle East. The cranes can extend upto 25 containers aligned horizontally on a ship's deck, has the capacity to lift 80 tonnes of weight and the ability to load and unload large vessels that have the capacity to hold upto 12,000 containers.
 
"Dubai Ports is the third fastest-growing port in the world, and the gantry cranes have been a critical factor in the remarkable growth in container handling achieved by DPA, which is ranked 10th in the world in terms of container handling volume," Al Dhafri said.
 
During his presentation, Al Dhafri also highlighted the remarkable success of the Jebel Ali Container Terminal. He said: "Dubai Ports has followed a progressive and innovative plan for the development of the Jebel Ali Container Terminal right from the conceptualization stage of the Jebel Ali Port, which has evolved into one of the busiest and most efficient ports in the region."
 
TOC provides a forum for executives from the port, terminal and shipping industries, as well as government delegates, to meet and discuss key industry and technology trends, so they can improve the quality of their business relationships and performance.