In March 2010 DP World Antwerp officially commissioned its first Liebherr Mobile Harbour Crane on a portal (LPS 500) for service.

The Liebherr Portal Slewing Crane (LPS) is an efficient combination of a space-saving portal (mounted on rails) and the proven mobile harbour crane concept. Particularly on narrow quays, individual portal solutions permit (railway) trains and (road) trucks to travel below the portal.

“We are very pleased to be working with Liebherr on this project. Liebherr’s involvement was a key factor moving forward with the project, and we now look forward to a successful operation as well as a productive long term operating relationship with Liebherr”, says Robby Van Bunder, Technical Manager of DP World Antwerp.

The portal, tailored exactly to the infrastructure requirements of the customer, has a rail span of 11 meters, enough space to let pass two trains next to each other under the crane. This design offers unprecedented ease of operation in a full range of general cargo applications.

A lifting capability of up to 104 tons and a maximal outreach of 51 meters make it ideal for transhipment at multipurpose terminals like this one. In addition to the on-board diesel-hydraulic power transmission system the crane was equipped with an electric motor and a 800 m (?) cable to offer the customer the option to operate the crane from the existing high voltage network (apart from the standard possibility to use the crane independent of any shore supply).

"This portal crane brings a whole new dimension for cargo handling at our terminal, positioning DP World Antwerp as a premier break bulk port”, says Dimitri Abebeloos, Operation Manager Break Bulk of DP World Antwerp.

The Liebherr Mobile Harbour Cranes are also the only cranes among its competitors to offer a synchronizing crane control system. This sophisticated software called Sycratronic® allows two Liebherr Mobile Harbour Cranes to be operated simultaneously by one crane driver for improved crane operation, speed and safety.

Before the final handover the LPS 500 had to pass a 48-hours endurance test. The obligatory technical requirements of DP World demanded a 98%-reliability.

“We had not one second of downtime in 48 hours, this was the best equipment performance test we ever had”, says Robby Van Bunder.

Once more, Liebherr managed to adapt its high-profile mobile harbour crane concept in such a way that the customer could be supplied with a portal solution which perfectly fits into the terminal’s concept and at the same time offers all the advantages of the LHM range.

“This project is the outcome of a process where all parties have maintained focus on solutions throughout the development phase. Liebherr looks forward to working with all parties involved to ensure that this project will deliver the expected outcome in the years to come”, says Johan Gouverneur, Regional Sales Manager of Liebherr.