On 4 December, two mega ship-to-shore (STS) cranes arrived at PSA Sines in Portugal. The new cranes will be added to PSA Sines existing 10 super post-panamax cranes, allowing the terminal to handle the largest container vessels currently sailing on the Iberian Peninsula.
The new equipment will also assist in increasing PSA Sines capacity from 2.3 to 2.7 million TEUs and boost PSA Sines position as the preferred Iberian gateway hub.
The new STS cranes departed Shanghai on 7 September 2023 and arrived safely after nearly three months at sea. The new equipment, which is scheduled to be operational in February 2024, will now undergo six weeks of testing and commissioning.
“With an outreach of 24 container rows and a height of 55 metres, we will now have six quay cranes that are fully capable of handling vessels larger than 24,000 TEUs in size, with no limitations. Alongside our multiskilled and engaged workforce, our productivity levels will reinforce our position as one of the largest container terminals in the south of Europe,” stated Nichola Silveira, CEO of PSA Sines.
PSA Sines has already invested more than US$400 million in the development of its cutting-edge facility since the commencement of the terminal in 2000.
PSA Sines has begun its ambitious Phase III expansion project, valued at over US$444 million, to continue to support the rise in cargo volume and to fulfill the rising demands of their clients.
When the Phase III expansion is completed in 2030, the terminal will have a double annual handling capacity of 4.2 million TEUs.
