Two Ship to Shore cranes arrive at HIP for bulk cargo operations

Monday, 20 June 2022 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Two brand new Chinese manufactured cranes will be fitted at berth number six of Hambantota International Port (HIP). The shore cranes, shipped by barge from the Port of Zhenjiang in China to HIP, came fully-assembled, and took nearly six weeks to complete their journey.

The cranes built to fit HIP regulations, are customised to comply with the Port’s environmental standards. The new equipment, which will be used for the discharge of bulk raw materials for the Lanwa Cement Factory, will move clinker, gypsum and slag cargoes. The material will be transferred from ship to dedusting hopper via the cranes, and then taken to a conveyor belt leading to the factory located in the BOI zone in Mirijjawila, 2 km away from the port.

“The new cranes will hugely increase vessel turnaround times which will have a highly desirable impact on our productivity. The Port began handling bulk cargo in 2018, after the Hambantota International Port Group (HIPG) took over. We have achieved record highs in volumes since then and this new addition will help us to further improve our operations efficiency. We will be able to almost double our productivity levels, with the new cranes,” said HIPG COO Tissa Wickramasinghe. Each crane has a 27m outreach and can handle 600 tonnes per hour, with a lifting speed of 120m per minute, while also enhancing the environment-friendliness of cargo handling at HIP.