After 22 months of anticipation, two new Super Post-Panamax cranes finally arrived at the Port of Savannah's Ocean Terminal on Saturday, June 18, 2005. Before reaching their final destination in Savannah, GA, the cranes 47-day long journey aboard the 505-foot custom-made ship, Dock Express 10, originated at the Port of Tianjin, China.

The cranes are the largest ship-to-shore cranes in the world, each with a length of 465 feet, a height of 374 feet with its boom raised, a weight of 1,369 tons and a span capacity of 22 containers across and six containers high on deck. The lift capacity of each crane is 72 tons under the spreader bar and 95 tons under the cargo beam.

"We are very happy the new cranes have finally arrived," said Georgia Ports Authority Executive Director Doug J. Marchand."With the cranes' capacity to handle the world's largest cargo vessels, the economic impact to the state of Georgia will be tremendous."

The cranes are expected to be the first cargo unloaded at the GPA's Container Berth 8 (CB-8). When complete early in 2006, CB-8 will increase capacity at the Port of Savannah by 20%, provide more than 9,800 feet of continuous dock, create an additional 10,800 jobs for Georgia and impact more than $240 million in direct and indirect wages for Georgia workers.

Super Post-Panamax Cranes fact sheet

22 months ago, GPA ordered two $6.3 million each Super Post-Panamax cranes from KCI Konecranes.

  • 47 days ago a custom-made ship, the 505-ft. Dock Express 10, sailed from the Port of Tianjin, China, for Savannah, Georgia.
  • Fully assembled, each Super Post-Panamax crane weighs 1,369 tons, is approximately 465 feet long, and, with the boom raised, 374 feet high.
  • The new cranes represent the largest ship-to-shore cranes in the world.
  • When the cranes transit the Talmadge Bridge aboard the Dock Express 10, they will tower 190 feet above the water level.
  • In the shipping lane, at low tide, the vertical clearance of the Talmadge Bridge is 194 feet.
  • The cranes will have a 72-ton lifting capacity under the spreader bar and a 95-ton capacity under the cargo beam.
  • The cranes can handle ships of Super Post-Panamax size, or 22 containers wide.
  • The new cranes will play a major role in the productivity and capacity necessary to handle the growing volume of containerized cargo.