Mobile harbour cranes to Central America
Heavy-lift vessel Mv Palmgracht arrived at the port of Taicang, China, just ahead of the Chinese Spring Festival to load three Mobile Harbour Cranes (MHCs) manufactured by Genma, the brand name of Rainbow Heavy Machinery. Despite the festive season, operations proceeded efficiently thanks to a dedicated shore crew at the Run He terminal.
The tallest of the cranes was destined for Puerto Quetzal in Guatemala and had a lifting capacity of 100 metric tonnes. With 30.2 x 15.5 x 89.4 metres and weighing 638 metric tonnes (including its counterweight), this crane was supplied with a container spreader and spare parts for the end-client, Yilport.
The other two cranes, slightly smaller but boasting a higher lifting capacity of 150 tonnes, were bound for Corinto in Nicaragua. They each measured 29.6 x 15.5 x 80.7 metres and weighed 616 metric tonnes (including their 106 mt counterweights). These units came with two grabs, two container spreaders, and spare parts for the end-client, Empresa Portuaria Nacional (EPN).
To enable the lift, Palmgracht’s two 24-metre lifting beams were positioned on the jetty. The MHC was then manoeuvred over the beams, which were then connected to the vessel’s heavy-lift cranes by using 10-metre spreaders and long grommets for added stability. During the lift, the cranes’ outriggers thus rested on the beams of the gondola-type rigging system which proved both stable and effective.
Once on deck, the first crane was driven forward, the second aft, and the third was landed directly in its final stowage position. The jibs were lowered to the deck, ensuring a stable, seaworthy configuration, and lashings were applied to both the main carriages and the jibs.
The voyage across the Pacific to Puerto Quetzal took about a month. Upon arrival, one MHC was discharged and Palmgracht assisted in installing its counterweight, thereby delivering the crane in fully operational condition. In Corinto, the other two cranes were landed on a newly constructed harbour extension. They were made ready for commissioning after the vessel’s departure.