These cranes will be able to accommodate larger vessels and will improve the terminal’s capacity, creating economic growth within the region.
PNCT President James Pelliccio described the purchase and capability of the new cranes.
“PNCT has acquired three new ZMPC super-post-Panamax cranes, which are scheduled to arrive in early May, with commissioning completed by late August/early September,” said PNCT President James Pelliccio. “These cranes have significantly improved capabilities. They can accommodate some of the largest vessels that will be deployed in the U.S. trades post-Panama Canal expansion. The cranes are capable of handling 14,000+ TEU vessels, are 22 wide and have a 65-ton twin 20′ lifting capacity.”
In addition to the cranes, PNCT currently is undergoing major improvements, including the development of additional acreage, deepening the berths, strengthening the docks, expanding the queuing area and upgrading capital equipment. PNCT has completed the upgrade of its entire fleet of container-handling equipment.
As one of the largest infrastructure projects in New Jersey, PNCT is investing more than $500 million in its expansion before the year 2030. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey will invest up to an additional $100 million in improvements to the PNCT facility.
The Port Authority also is expanding Port Newark Container Terminal’s ExpressRail facility from its current two loading tracks to four, giving the terminal the ability to handle 250,000 rail boxes per year. The additional 5,000 feet of rail track and resulting capacity will give PNCT the ability to service both major East Coast Class 1 railroads. The project is scheduled to be fully completed by April 2015.
PNCT also has taken delivery of three new rail-specified, rubber-tired gantry (RTG) cranes (see photo) as part of the next phase of the terminal’s on-dock rail yard expansion, a change from its current reach-stacker operation. The ongoing rail yard expansion includes the doubling of rail track to 10,000 feet, which will be completed this summer, and the completion of a flyover bridge (see photo). This 543-foot-long crossing allows cargo containers to be quickly and efficiently moved from the dock to ExpressRail Port Newark, which transports more than 100,000 containers by rail annually.
“This project will allow one of our key port tenants to move its cargo into the market in a cost-effective and environmentally friendly way,” said Port Authority Port Commerce Director Richard M. Larrabee. “We’re proud of the phenomenal growth of our port rail business, which gives our port a competitive edge for international cargo with other ports on the East Coast.”
Pelliccio explained the extended value of these port improvements to the community and the region.
“The community receives many benefits from a robust maritime operation that serves as a driving economic engine for the region.” Pelliccio said. “Our improvements and investment in infrastructure not only allow us to handle larger vessels that will supply the area with greater volumes of goods, they will help reduce traffic congestion, air pollution and travel time for the surrounding community.”
Located on the Newark Bay, PNCT maintains 19 percent of the market share in the Port of New York and New Jersey. The Port of New York and New Jersey, the largest container port on the East Coast, is the first call port for crossing the Atlantic. It accounts for 61 percent of container throughput in the Northeast, with projected growth rates through 2022 estimates between 3 and 4 percent compound annual growth rate, raising the port volumes to almost 8 million TEU. Additionally, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is raising the navigational clearance of the Bayonne Bridge by 2016, allowing these new larger vessels to transit and call the major container terminals.