London Gateway puts ‘quad lift’ crane into service

   DP World said it has begun using a spreader bar on one of the cranes at its London Gateway terminal that is capable of lifting four 20-foot containers or two 40-foot containers at the same time.
   Andrew Bowen, engineering director of DP World, said: “This is an excellent example of DP World innovation at London Gateway. We’ve engineered a system that allows us to double the number of containers we move safely and quickly.
   “By introducing the tandem lift for two forty foot containers to our operations, we will be able to improve productivity that will allow vessels to be turned around faster and cargo to move on to its final destination more efficiently. We already enhanced the size of the cranes to be some of the largest in the world, capable of handling the largest vessels in the world. They also come with cutting edge automation technology.”
   London Gateway opened on Nov. 7 with the MOL Caledon calling as part of the Southern Africa Europe Container service (SAECS).
   During the bad weather around Christmas period, London Gateway said its land-side operations remained open while other ports were closed. Four additional calls to London Gateway were made after poor weather caused ships to divert from their planned port of call. One of the ships, the Maersk Gudrun, was, at 367 meters long, the longest container ship to ever travel up the Thames, according to the Port of London Authority.