Port of Cleveland orders 2 new mobile harbor cranes

The Port of Cleveland said the new cranes, model LHM 280s, on order are currently being built in Sunderland, England, and will be in service next shipping season.    The Port of Cleveland has ordered two new mobile harbor cranes from Liebherr as part of its effort to increase efficiency in cargo handling. 
   The cranes, model LHM 280s, are currently being built in Sunderland, England, and will be in service next shipping season, the authority said.
   Each crane has a maximum lift capacity of 84 tons or 40 percent more than the port’s existing cranes, and will be able to handle containers, general cargo and bulk. 
   The port authority said the two cranes cost $5.7 million and were paid through a combination of grants and forgivable loans. 
   “We’re continuing to make strategic investments in the Port of Cleveland, and these cranes will help us better serve our customers and handle more cargo more efficiently,” said Will Friedman, port president and chief executive officer, in a statement. 
   The Great Lakes port has benefited from the recent start of the Cleveland Europe Express container service. Operate by Dutch shipping company Spliethoff Group, the service has resulted in a 500 percent increase in containerized cargo this year alone, the Port of Cleveland said.