Global Ports Group, a leading operator of container terminals in the Russian market, has installed two Liebherr LHM550 mobile harbour cranes at its Far Eastern terminal Vostochnaya Stevedoring Company (VSC), which is located in the deep-water port of Vostochniy in Primorskiy krai, Russia.

The new heavy-duty equipment supports the operation of VCS's five STS cranes, increasing vessel handling speed and efficiency and enabling a 200,000 TEU increase in berth yearly capacity in the future.

The harbour cranes were custom-built in Germany for Global Ports and shipped to VSC pre-assembled.

The machines have a 144-tonne lifting capability and can work in three modes: hook, spreader, and grab. Each crane has a maximum reach of 54 metres and can handle vessels with up to 16 rows of containers. The Global Ports Petrolesport terminal in St Petersburg already has similar equipment.

VSC's container throughput grew by 17.3% in the first quarter of 2023 compared to the first quarter of 2022, reaching 146,000 TEUs.

Global Ports has a steady investment schedule in place to boost terminal capacity in the Far East. In 2023-2024, nine new RTG and RMG cranes from China's premier manufacturer ZPMC will join VSC's fleet.

In addition, from the second part of 2022 to May 2023, the Group transferred about 30 equipment units, including RTGs, straddle carriers, reachstackers, and tractors, from North-West terminals to the Far East.

Furthermore, Global Ports started an extension project at VSC in September 2022 to develop the 470,000 square metre site adjacent to the port. The region will be developed with two container ports, storage areas, and a new railway front. The project will expand VSC's throughput capacity from 700,000 to 1.7 million TEUs per year by the mid-2030s.