Hamburg terminal invests for 20,000-TEU vessels

HHLA will purchase additional gantry cranes to service the next generation of box ships.    Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG is gearing up another terminal to handle ultra-large container vessels, which ocean carriers are beginning to utilize in the Asia-Europe trade lane.
   The vertically integrated port logistics group said it has ordered two new gantry cranes from Liebherr for the Tollerort terminal at the Port of Hamburg. The 1,500-ton dual-trolley cranes will be able to handle 20,000-TEU vessels, reaching out across 24 rows of containers.
   Liebherr will pre-produce large components of the cranes in plants in Killarney, Ireland, and in Rostock, Germany and assemble them at the port.
   The contract includes an option for three additional container gantry cranes.
   Last week, HHLA announced it has ordered three giant gantry cranes for its Burchardkai container terminal at the Port of Hamburg.