Mega cranes docking in Auckland tomorrow

Ports of Auckland’s massive new container cranes will sail into port between 7am and 8 am tomorrow, Friday 5 October. The cranes, which stand 82.3 metres tall and weigh 2,100 tonnes, will make a dramatic sight as they enter the Waitematā Harbour by ship.

The ship carrying the cranes will travel along the main shipping channel, past Rangitoto Island, around North Head and into Fergusson Container Terminal.

The best viewing spots will be on North Head, Mt Victoria, the North Shore beaches, Devonport, and along Tamaki Drive from Takaparawhau to Parnell.

Ports of Auckland needs need bigger, faster cranes to keep up with Auckland’s growth. More people in the city means more freight, more freight means bigger ships, so the port has to make sure it can handle them. With these new cranes, and the new deep water berth they will sit on, Ports of Auckland will be able to handle the biggest ships coming to New Zealand.

It will take a week to unload the cranes, and there will then be a five to six month commissioning process before they start operating.

KEY FACTS:

• Height: 82.3 metres (current cranes are 69.2m). For comparison, the HSBC building in downtown Auckland is 81m and the Auckland Harbour Bridge is 64m.

• Weight: 2,100 tonnes (current cranes are 1,200 and 1,300 tonnes)

• Able to lift four containers at once, weighing up to 130 tonnes, a New Zealand first (current cranes can lift two, up to 65 tonnes)

• Able to be remotely operated – a New Zealand first.

• World first: Can to lift containers stacked at different heights (up to 1.2 metres difference).

• Lash platforms, a New Zealand first and an industry-leading safety innovation.

• Can service ships of over 11,000 TEU, future-proofing Auckland’s port against future ship size increases.

• Outreach: 21 containers across (current cranes 16 and 19 across)

• Boom length (waterside to tip): 70m (current cranes 50.7m and 56.9m)

• Built in Shanghai and took three weeks to sail from Shanghai to Auckland

• Enough solar panels to power the average Kiwi home and 100% LED lighting

• Project cost: $60 million (three cranes, plus supporting equipment)

ENDS

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