Eurogate-Blog

Container vessels are becoming bigger and bigger. In order to accommodate mega carriers of the new generation, EUROGATE Technical Services has extended a number of the booms on its Bremerhaven gantry cranes.

Since spring 2015, Technical Services has increased the outreach of 14 gantry cranes operated by EUROGATE Container Terminal Bremerhaven (CTB) and MSC Gate. Axel Jachens from the container gantries and cranes profit centre of EUROGATE Technical Services Bremerhaven explains: “We have made technical modifications to the waterside gantry booms to allow the trolley to move a further 75 centimetres towards the water’s edge, making it possible to handle container vessels with a capacity of up to 23 rows of containers on deck.”

The booms themselves were not extended. Rather, the technical teams (two installation teams comprising four mechanics each) moved the mechanical and electrical end stops, which bring the trolley to a stop, nearer to the water. This was possible because the gantry booms had sufficient reserve length.

Before work could begin, structural engineers tested the shift in the application of forces. Their calculations showed that it is possible to extend the boom by 75 centimetres without additional measures or compromising on safety.

“Further extension of the booms is now no longer possible,” says Jachens, inasmuch as the boom itself is not actually extended. This would necessitate further calculations. It is planned to extend the remaining 7 MSC and CTB gantry cranes in the course of this year.

Caption: Gantry crane 22 is one of those in line for a 75-centimetre boom extension.