LINX recently moved a Liebherr LHM420 harbour crane from its Henderson operation in Western Australia to Port Kembla.
The company said the move was to bolster its capabilities at the NSW port to support its customer BlueScope.
The crane joins an existing Liebherr LHM400S harbour crane, known as Big Red, at Port Kembla. The second crane, named Hendo, is 33 metres high and features a max boom height of 68 metres. It is capable of loading up to 60 tonnes of steel products in a single lift.
Linx Port Services executive general manager Vince Trotter said the relocation of the crane to Port Kembla to support BlueScope was representative of the strong long-term relationship between the two parties.
“The relocation of a crane this size is logistically significant however the extra loading and unloading capacity this crane provides, and the broader benefit it will deliver to a crucial part of BlueScope’s operation, made it an easy decision and well worth the effort,” Mr Trotter said.
BlueScope marine contracts and development manager Glen Seymour said the second crane would increase vessel loading productivity, reducing overall vessel time at berth and enabling increased scheduling flexibility, improved utilisation and freight savings.
Linx Cargo Care Group mobile equipment and fixed assets manager Adrian Moore said moving the crane was a complex process.
“The weather in WA at the time did slow things a little but thankfully we engaged partners who are the best in their fields. Aside from our own specialists who were able to showcase some of their own skills on a unique lift such as this, we had ten different partners contribute to this project,” Mr Moore said.
“Their expertise and professionalism were a significant reason we were able to overcome the challenges and deliver.”
