Belfast’s contract for world’s largest hydraulic crane

(Posted on 01/11/18)

Cooper Specialised Handling has released details of a contract award for the supply of a new Mantsinen 300M – the world’s largest hydraulic crane - to Belfast Harbour.

Belfast Harbour is Northern Ireland's principal maritime gateway and logistics hub, serving the Northern Ireland economy and increasingly that of the Republic of Ireland. Around 70% of Northern Ireland's and 20% of the entire island's seaborne trade pass through the Harbour. Last year the port reported nearly 24 million tonnes of commodities handled.

Belfast Harbour had previously acquired a 160M Mantsinen in 2016 and it is largely by virtue of the performance of this that opportunities for a larger machine of the same type and scope were identified.

It also means that Belfast Harbour will retake the status of owning the largest hydraulic crane in the UK and Ireland having briefly held that accolade with the 160M before Mantsinen supplied a larger 200M to a customer in Liverpool. At 370 tonnes gross weight, the 300M comfortably makes it the largest machine of its type.

The crane’s specification is to be a multi-handling tool for the wide variety of cargoes and vessels visiting the port. Supplied with a 17.5m boom and 15m stick, the machine sits on an 8m high slewing-ring. It will have the capacity to handle 30 tonne coils from the far side of a vessel as well as tackling larger vessels up to 36,000 tonnes gross weight.

Commenting on the new supply, David Cooper, Director, Cooper Specialised Handling, said:

“Belfast Harbour should be congratulated on its vision for this type of handling. In the past, rope-styled cranes were the only type of equipment that could handle these cargoes and larger vessels, but that has changed as the 300M encroaches deeper into traditional rope-crane territory.

“The faster productivity, precise control plus the ability to handle the product directly without the need of slinging in the hold brings huge operational advantages.”

Trevor Anderson, Operations Director, Belfast Harbour, added:

“The 160M has already proven that this style of machine has a place at the port handling the huge variety of vessels and cargoes which we manage. We look forward to exploiting the extra capacity, longer reach and overall versatility that the 300M will bring to our cargo-handling portfolio.”

The machine benefits from a wheeled under-carriage with six axles and 24-wheels, plus an intermediate, mid-mounted service platform. This enables the operator to park it in any position and eliminates the need to align the rotating upper with the fixed lower structure.

The 300M will be supplied with the patented second-generation Hybrilift system which activates stored energy-recovery by pulling at the boom-head to complement the main lift cylinders pushing from below. The order also includes 10 and 12 cubic metre clamshell grabs, a lifting hook for project-lifts up to 50 tonnes lift as well as a hydraulic coil pincer for handling 30 tonne coils.

The 300M is due to arrive in spring 2019. The contract value has not been disclosed.

Operating in all sectors of heavy lifting across the UK and Ireland, Cooper Specialised Handling is the exclusive UK distributor for Meclift, SveTruck and Sany mobile handling equipment, sole UK importer and exclusive distributor for Mantsinen cranes and a long-term specialist in Konecranes lift trucks. The company, which celebrates 20 years in business in 2018, also has a dedicated aftersales division, Cooper Handling Solutions, which specialises in engineering support.

Independently owned, Cooper offers total solutions in both solids and bulk handling.