Ports of Auckland has welcomed three massive new container cranes as they entered the Waitematā Harbour by ship.
The cranes, which stand 82.3 metres tall and weigh 2,100 tonnes, made a dramatic entrance arriving at the port early morning on October 5.
The total cost of the cranes plus supporting equipment is $60 million.
They were built in Shanghai and took three weeks to sail to Auckland.
They traveled along the main shipping channel, past Rangitoto Island, around North Head and into Fergusson Container Terminal.
The cranes are the first in New Zealand able to lift four containers at once, weighing up to 130 tonnes. Current cranes, which weigh between 1200 and 1300 tonnes, can only lift two containers up to 65 tonnes.
With a boom extending 70 metres, they are also able to reach 21 containers across compared to current cranes reaching 16 to 19 across.
They also feature enough solar panels to power the average Kiwi home and 100% LED lighting.
The cranes are needed to keep up with the port’s growth as freight demands are on the increase.
It will take a week to unload the cranes, and there will be a five to six-month commissioning process before they start operating.
