Spotted: Antwerp Welcomes 50-Meter Monsters

As part of the MSC PSA European Terminal (MPET) expansion and modernization program, the Belgian Port of Antwerp today welcomed five new gantry cranes. 

The 50-meter high cranes arrived to the port aboard the Hong-Kong flagged general cargo vessel Zhen Hua 27.

MPET’s new toys will be able to handle ships with 25 rows of containers stacked.

The terminal, located at the Delwaide dock on the right bank, was officially opened on 15 June 2005.

The terminal is a joint venture between PSA and Terminal Investment Limited (TIL).

According to MPET, in order to support the expansion, the terminal is moving its operations to the Deurganckdock (left bank). The company expects the MPET/PSA DGD will reach a capacity of 9 million TEU, making it the largest terminal in Europe.

As World Maritime News recently reported, the port handled over 156,5 million tonnes of freight in the first nine months of this year, up 5.5% on the same period last year, putting the port firmly in position to end 2015 with a record breaking total volume of 200 million tonnes.

World Maritime News Staff, Image: The Port of Antwerp