Georgia Ports Authority orders 28 Konecranes container cranes

The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) has placed an order for 28 container cranes from Konecranes for its Port of Savannah in the United States. The order comprises 20 Rubber Tired Gantry (RTG) cranes and eight Ship-to-Shore (STS) cranes. Six of the ordered STS cranes will be the largest ever manufactured by Konecranes.

The GPA made the order as it prepares to serve the world's largest container vessels, such as the HMM Algeciras and Maersk Triple-E classes, which can carry over 24,000 TEU (20- or 40-foot containers). The STS cranes will be delivered in two batches, the first in June 2023 and the second in October 2023. The diesel-electric RTG cranes will be delivered in four batches of five cranes each during 2021-2022.

Griff Lynch, Executive Director of GPA, stated that the new high-performance and long-lasting STS cranes are part of the "Big Ship/Big Berth" program, aimed at serving "New-Panamax" sized vessels. This capability is further enhanced by the deepening of Savannah's shipping channel, scheduled for completion by the end of 2021.

Mika Mahlberg, Executive Vice President of Konecranes Port Solutions, highlighted Konecranes' long-standing relationship with GPA, dating back to the early 1990s. He noted that the collaboration has focused on improving efficiency and staying ahead of industry trends. The new cranes are intended to assist GPA in achieving its growth and performance targets.