New STS crane at DB Port Szczecin

On 1 December we held the inauguration ceremony for our new STS crane. Among the invited guests were members of the Management Board of DB Cargo Poland, representatives of the local government, Marshal Olgierd Geblewicz and Mayor of Szczecin Piotr Krzystek, our customers, contractors and employees.

The crane was brought to DB Port Szczecin on 3 July 2023 on board of ship "Puka". The manufacturer of the equipment is Liebherr Container Cranes from Ireland. The cost of the purchase including installation amounted to PLN 40 million, half of which was subsidised by EU grants under the Infrastructure and Environment Programme.

The new equipment is part of a wider project to enable the handling of larger vessels, once the dredging of the fairway and improvement of quay parameters have been completed, and is the result of a continuous drive to improve the speed of handling and the quality of service we provide to our customers.

It took more than 20,000 manhours to manufacture the crane and 15,000 manhours to assemble and test it by company PZT.

The crane is 70 metres high when assembled, and 98 metres with the boom raised. It weighs 1,200 tonnes, of which 720 tonnes is construction steel. The crane can extend 48 metres above the water, allowing it to handle ships with 16 rows of containers. The spreader allows two 20' containers weighing a total of 65 tonnes to be moved at the same time, or a heavy load of 75 tonnes under hook.

Because of the importance we attach to environmental issues, we decided to purchase an electric crane. It is powered by a 300-metre cable, which will allow free movement along the entire length of the quay. CCTV cameras are installed on the crane and spreader, allowing the operator to conveniently observe surroundings  and the work front on a screen in the cabin.

The new crane was being assembled until October, with the first test handling performed on 29.10.2023.

We wish our employees a pleasant and safe work on the new equipment.