Liebherr to supply automated cranes to port

Liebherr Container Cranes have secured the contract to supply STS and RTGs to the Port of Duqm in Oman.

The four STS and twelve RTGs will be delivered to Oman in late 2022

The order of four ship to shore (STS) and twelve rubber tyre gantry (RTG) cranes will be delivered to Oman in late 2022.

The Port of Duqm development is part of the SEZAD project (Special Economic Zone of Authority at Duqm). The facility is centrally located overlooking the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean.

This new port has been designed to be a multipurpose commercial gateway, and one of the largest ports in the region.

The new ship to shore container cranes feature an outreach of 71 metres, a back reach of 18 metres and a lift height over rail of 50 metres.

The cranes have a safe working load of 65 tonnes under twin lift spreader. Supplied without a cabin, the cranes will be operated using a combination of remote control and automation.

Automation will take care of the majority of the cycle with operator intervention only required when operating below a predefined safe height.

The diesel powered RTGs can stack eight containers

Each Liebherr STS will be connected to its own dedicated remote operator station. The cabinless RTGs also feature automation. Four ROS operators will operate the twelve RTGs.

Data communications in the container yard will be handed by a mesh network. This decentralised system sees multiple access points positioned throughout the yard providing a high speed and stable data network for remote control.

Gerry Bunyan, managing director of sales for Liebherr Container Cranes, said, “Liebherr have for many years supplied STS and RTG cranes throughout the Middle East, but these will be the first Liebherr container cranes in Oman. These are also our first cabinless and automated cranes in the region and we look forward to seeing the cranes being deployed. Their size and automation features will ensure that the Port of Duqm will be able to efficiently, safely and predictably handle large container vessels for many years to come.”