Super Post-Panamax Cranes Arrive at Port of Savannah

After 22 months of anticipation, two new Super Post-Panamax cranes finally arrived at the Port of Savannah’s Ocean Terminal on Saturday, June 18, 2005. Before reaching their final destination in Savannah, Ga., the cranes 47-day long journey aboard the 505-foot custom-made ship, Dock Express 10, originated at the Port of Tianjin, China.

The cranes are the largest ship-to-shore cranes in the world, each with a length of 465 feet, a height of 374 feet with its boom raised, a weight of 1,369 tons and a span capacity of 22 containers across and six containers high on deck. The lift capacity of each crane is 72 tons under the spreader bar and 95 tons under the cargo beam.

“We are very happy the new cranes have finally arrived,” said Georgia Ports Authority Executive Director Doug J. Marchand. “With the cranes’ capacity to handle the world’s largest cargo vessels, the economic impact to the state of Georgia will be tremendous.” The cranes are expected to be the first cargo unloaded later this week at the GPA’s Container Berth 8 (CB-8). When complete early in 2006, CB-8 will increase capacity at the Port of Savannah by 20 percent, provide more than 9,800 feet of continuous dock, create an additional 10,800 jobs for Georgia and impact more than $240 million in direct and indirect wages for Georgia workers.

Georgia’s deepwater ports and inland barge terminals support more than 275,968 jobs throughout the state each year and contribute $10.8 billion in income, $35.4 billion in revenue and some $1.4 billion in state and local taxes to Georgia’s bustling economy.