Konecranes Inks Service Deal with MPET

In August 2017, Finnish crane manufacturer Konecranes signed a service agreement with MSC PSA European Terminal (MPET), the largest container terminal in the Port of Antwerp.

Under the agreement, Konecranes’ Antwerp-based service organization will perform all of the maintenance and repair work on more than 150 Konecranes Noell Straddle Carriers of different generations for MPET.

As explained, the purpose of this service agreement is to achieve “consistently high availability of the entire machine fleet.”

MPET, a joint venture between TIL Group and PSA, handles the majority of containers in the Port of Antwerp. The terminal saw steady growth in 2016.

“Last year, we exceeded the 10 million TEU mark for the first time, which led to an increasing need for new machines. As a result, our fleet of Konecranes Noell Straddle Carriers has expanded by almost 100 machines in the past twelve months,” Randy Verresen, Manager Rolling Equipment at Antwerp Terminal Services NV, service organization of PSA Antwerp and MPET, commented.

“To keep the availability of the straddle carriers as high as possible, we are now entrusting the service work on the machines to their manufacturer Konecranes. We are certain that we are well-equipped for the anticipated continued growth of the terminal over the long term,” Verresen added.

“Antwerp is one of the most important ports for us. In addition to straddle carriers, other types of Konecranes port equipment such as mobile harbor cranes (MHCs), automated stacking cranes (ASCs) and lift trucks that are operated … in the port need to be serviced and maintained,” Tom Cerpentier, Regional Director Port Services, Konecranes, said.