The crane, which has a weight of 1,182 tons, and a boom height of around 115 meters, is worth around EUR 7.3 million and is one of the most important components of the future regional container trans-shipment hub. Director General of Klaipeda Seaport, Arvydas Vaitkus stated, “Container handling in Klaipeda Seaport is growing most rapidly, thus improving conditions for accepting larger containerships which allows us to move to a new qualitative level. In the first quarter of 2014, Klaipeda Port handled a third more containerised cargo than during the same period last year; it is forecasted that growth trends are going to continue.”
In 2013, Klaipedos Smelte ordered 3 STS Post-Panamax cranes; the first one was delivered last fall, the second one now, and the last one is expected to reach Klaipeda in the beginning of this summer.
According to the representatives of Klaipeda State Seaport Authority, container handling is an area where the name and competence of Klaipeda Port are already high. “This was achieved because of the Klaipeda Container Terminal, which has been performing container handling in Klaipeda Port for a decade. In 2013, the Port Authority completed the construction of additional quay for this terminal and increased terminal water side capacity. We are going to continue the improvement of container handling conditions,” said Vaitkus.
In the first quarter of 2014, Klaipeda Port handled 35 per cent more containerised cargo than during the same period last year. 1.023.362 tons were handled in January through March, 2013; 1.383.075 tons – in January through March, 2014.