Kalmar to Upgrade MSC Terminal VLC (Valencia) Cranes

 

Kalmar, part of Cargotec, has announced a large contract to heighten and extend the handling capabilities of eight ship-to-shore (STS) cranes at MSC Terminal VLC in Valencia, Spain. The order is the largest ever for Kalmar Crane Upgrades business. The project was signed into Cargotec's 2015 third quarter intake, and all cranes are scheduled to be operational by mid-2017.
 
MSC Terminal VLC has chosen to upgrade their STS cranes to accommodate larger vessels in anticipation of growth in container movements. The Paceco cranes are currently limited to a maximum vessel size of 16,000 TEUs. Kalmar will extend the boom on all eight cranes by six metres and heighten six of the cranes by 10 metres, increasing the terminal's capacity to serve ships carrying up to 19,000 TEU (MSC OSCAR type).
 
José Ignacio Fernández, Head of Crane Upgrades in Kalmar South EMEA said, "We are delighted to have received this order from MSC Terminal VLC, the biggest contract to date for STS crane upgrades in our region. Upgrading an existing crane's handling capabilities provides a cost-effective solution for ports and terminals looking to quickly gear up for the continued increases in vessel size. Kalmar Crane Upgrades Competence Centre for South EMEA will be completing the entire project, which is a testament to our specialist capabilities to handle such a complex process."
 
Sven Valentin, MSC Terminal VLC Manager commented, "The main benefit of working with Kalmar is their undoubted technical expertise and outstanding service. Upgrading eight cranes is a substantial job to undertake, but with their impressive track record in performing similar projects we have total confidence in their ability to meet our needs."