Port terminals in Barcelona and Spezia upgrade container handling capacity

Major container terminals in Europe are undergoing significant infrastructure upgrades to handle larger vessels and improve operational efficiency.

Hutchison Ports BEST in the Port of Barcelona has commissioned two new Ship-to-Shore (STS) cranes manufactured by ZPMC. These cranes feature a unique goose neck design, making them the largest in the world of their kind, and are capable of handling vessels up to 26 rows wide with a spreader height of 55 meters. This expansion brings the terminal's total to 15 Super Post-Panamax cranes.

In Italy, Spezia Container Terminal (LSCT) has finalized a 90 million euro purchase of four ship-to-shore gantry cranes and 18 yard cranes from a Chinese manufacturer. This investment is part of a broader 350 million euro modernization plan by the Contship Group. The new equipment is expected to be delivered within 24 to 28 months and will support vessels of up to 24,000 TEU while transitioning to electric power and increasing rail freight participation to 50%.