Ship-to-shore container crane coming together

The Port of Tauranga's new container crane is taking shape at the northern end of the Sulphur Point Container Terminal.

The Liebherr ship-to-shore container crane was shipped to Tauranga in pieces and is now being assembled in a two hectare space cleared of containers. The crane has a 52 m long boom and a lifting capacity of 80 tonnes.

The crane builders have erected the goal posts (the legs), attached the boom and put the machine house in place.

Three separate cranes were being used in the construction of the Liebherr crane, which stands 71 metres tall at its apex. When the ropes have been installed, the crane will be moved to its place of operation on specially designed skids.

The crane will bring the total number of container cranes to six.

Port of Tauranga commercial manager Graeme Marshall said the arrival of the new Super Post Panamax container crane was an important part of the 170m wharf extension project at Sulphur Point.

The project is due for completion at the end of March.

The work is part of the $180 million redevelopment of the container terminal.