It lifts more and faster and will increase productivity in CMP’s container handling operation. We are referring to the new STS crane, which will be taken into use in the North Harbour after the summer. The 40-metre crane, which is packed with modern technology, is currently being assembled. In addition to the new STS crane CMP also has access to a second crane for container handling.

It was on 13 May that CMP’s new STS crane arrived by ship from the manufacturer, Liebherr in Ireland. The STS crane – short for Ship-To-Shore – is a rail crane which will be used in CMP’s container handling operations in Malmö’s North Harbour. Work on assembling the crane at the container terminal has now begun and is expected to take about six weeks. When assembled, the crane will stand about 40 metres tall. It also has a better reach and operates faster than the old container cranes.

“The new crane is expected to raise productivity in our container handling operation by 20–25 per cent. It is also better adapted for modern feeder ships, which transport containers to our harbours,” Bengt-Olof Jansson, CMP’s Technical Manager, says.

When fully assembled, the crane will be tested and trialled for a couple of weeks. The technology is ultra-modern and the crane is packed with electronics, ensuring a fast and smooth operation. CMP’s old container cranes in Malmö date from the 1970s.

“The difference is enormous”, Bengt-Olof Jansson says. “It’s like comparing a new car with a model that’s 20–30 years old.”

“The new crane has modern automatic control systems and a whole range sensors, which detect if anything is wrong and send alerts,” he continues. “For us this will result in fewer outages and simpler troubleshooting if something did happen.”

The technology in the crane also enables it to “learn” the stowing patterns that are used for the unloading of a particular vessel. The crane knows, for instance, where in the terminal the last container was placed, which ensures faster and simpler operation.

The new STS crane will be taken into operation after the opening of the North Harbour in early September. In the run-up CMP’s staff will receive training in how to use it.

“Our crane operators, mechanics and electricians are going on customised training courses to ensure that they are familiar with the new technology when the crane is taken into use after the summer,” Bengt-Olof Jansson says.