Port of Lyttelton’s container cranes are undergoing work so the port’s new straddle carriers are able to fit under them.
Crane lifting is common, and port strategic engagement manager Phil de Joux says this was taken into account when the new straddles were purchased.
De Joux says ship-to-shore cranes are either lifted to fit taller straddles or to allow larger vessels to be unloaded.
“LPC have lifted cranes in the past, as ways of working and vessel sizes change over time,” de Joux told Stuff.
Spaces of between 1.4 and 1.8 meres were being fitted by crane manufacturer Liebherr.
“We made the decision to purchase the new straddles after wide analysis by ourselves and our international terminal consultants over what was the best way to work our container terminal and manage projected growth in volumes, including whether to use gantry cranes.”
De Joux says the cost of work was budgeted for when the new straddles were purchased and admit the cost was pricey.
