Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA) has enhanced its terminal in the port of Muuga (Estonia) with the acquisition of two larger container gantry cranes (than the existing ones), which will allow the movement of ships with a capacity of 14,000 TEU in the country for the first time.
The cranes’ previous owner was the Burchardkai container terminal in Hamburg.
Angela Titzrath, CEO of Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA), sees the subsidiary HHLA TK Estonia in a good position to establish itself as a hub in Baltic Sea traffic thanks to this technical improvement.
“The new, larger gantry cranes will help HHLA TK to utilise its full potential for the handling of existing and future freight streams,” said Titzrath, adding that HHLA, which operate the Muuga terminal, since 2018, has invested over €5 million (US$5.3 million) in the Estonian hub to make it able to service larger container ships.
Without the new cranes, the maximum capacity of a ship anchored in Muuga is 3,500 TEU. Vessels with a volume of up to 14,000 TEU, which are the largest container vessels crossing the Baltic Sea, can now call at the port.
With a carrying capacity of 70 tonnes, a height of 73 meters and a lifting height of 50 meters, these cranes are among the largest container gantry cranes in the Baltic region.
