Three new ZPMC cranes from China are expected to make the final leg of their journey to the Stevedoring Services of America’s (SSA) marine terminal, Oakland International Container Terminal (OICT).
SSA said its new cranes have a lift height of 53m above the dock and can reach 68.5m across a ship’s deck. When the crane booms are in the raised position, the cranes reach more than 122m above the wharf. SSA operates 10 cranes at OICT, three of which will be removed to make way for the new units.
“Taller cranes are needed to efficiently handle cargo that arrives on ultra-large container ships,” said SSA Containers President Edward DeNike. “This new infrastructure is a commitment to the port that we will continue our maritime business at Oakland well into the future.”
A vessel bringing the cranes to Oakland has been moored off the coast of Northern California in Drakes Bay for the last few days, and is expected to sail from its position early on 30 December, bringing the ship under the Golden Gate Bridge at approximately 8am, local time, weather permitting.
The fully assembled cranes are too large to fit under the Golden Gate and Bay Bridges with raised booms, so the crew have lowered the booms while the vessel was anchored in Drakes Bay.
