Associated Terminals LLC (AT), Louisiana, has recently ordered a Generation 5, G HPK 6400 B floating crane, a variant of Model 6 and derived from mobile harbor cranes, from Gottwald Port Technology GmbH (Gottwald). The new crane, which is scheduled to enter service February 2010, will be used for transshipping a variety of cargo including bulk materials and general cargo from large ocean-going vessels to smaller river barges on the Mississippi river.

This crane is designed as four-rope grab cranes for professional, heavy-duty bulk handling with a grab capacity on the ropes of 50 tons up to a radius of 31 m. The new crane can be used alongside ships of all sizes and, depending on the terminal and operating conditions, are designed for handling rates of up to 1,000 tph.

The diesel-electric crane will use proven mobile harbor crane technology from the slew ring upwards and is mounted on a pedestal supplied by Gottwald and integrated in the tailor-made barge construction. Gottwald combines its own crane know-how with the specialist skills of third-party barge manufacturers. Customers order the barge they need, whether new or refurbished, from their own sources. In the case of Associated Terminals a new barge has been ordered.

This order brings to three the total number of floating cranes ordered by Associated Terminals from Gottwald. The new crane will join another Generation 5, G HPK 6400 B floating crane, which has been in operation since January 2009 and an HPK 330 EG, one of Gottwald's Generation 4 machines, which has been in operation since 2006. The new crane is the most powerful crane in AT’s fleet and among the most powerful on the Mississippi River.

“As one of the largest stevedoring and terminal management firms in the Gulf South we are committed to the continued expansion of equipment, facilities, capabilities, and geographic areas of service. Adding the first two Gottwald cranes to our fleet, which currently comprises 12 floating cranes, put us in a position to offer enhanced services and performance to our worldwide customer base,” stated David Fennelly, President at Associated Terminals. “Our experience with regard to performance and reliability of the machines as well as customer service has been exceptionally good, which is why we opted once again for another crane from Gottwald.”

Robert Histon, Gottwald’s Regional Director situated in Tampa, Florida, is very happy about the company's continuing success with floating cranes. "The new order brings the total number of Floating Cranes sold since their launch in 2004 to 16. And of these, nine are used on the lower Mississippi. We are very honored by the trust Associated Terminals places in our products," he said. "We are very pleased to note this positive development which clearly shows that our decision to combine our proven Mobile Harbor Crane technology with barges has now become firmly established in the market for floating cranes.