USA: Associated Terminals LLC Orders Its Seventh Gottwald Floating Crane

Associated Terminals LLC in Louisiana/USA is expanding its fleet of machines with its seventh Gottwald Floating Crane.

A Generation 5 Model 8 crane variant will be starting commercial operation this month and will be one of the highest performance Floating Cranes handling bulk materials on the Mississippi. Currently, six Gottwald Floating Cranes supplied by Demag Cranes are in operation with Associated Terminals LLC ensuring smooth, efficient cargo handling.

“On the Mississippi, in particular, where quay facilities are few and far between, we intend to use the new Gottwald Floating Crane to improve our versatility in terms of midstream cargo handling”, explained Gary Poirrier, Director of Associated Terminals LLC. “In view of a steady increase in the volume of freight coupled with ever greater pressure to reduce costs, our customers require rapid, efficient cargo handling. In order to achieve high capacities and excellent handling rates, we are investing in reliable handling equipment made by the world market leader in floating cranes based on Mobile Harbour Crane technology.”

Additional information:

Significantly increased cargo handling capacities

Associated Terminals LLC uses Floating Cranes in midstream operation between mile markers MM 56,8 and MM 141 on the lower Mississippi. The G HPK 8400 B Floating Crane, a variant of

Model 8, will be used for the efficient transhipment of bulk materials including ores, coal, grain and fertilisers from larger sea-going vessels in size up to 1.150 feet to inland waterway vessels.

Most powerful 63-tonne grab curve

The G HPK 8400 B Floating Crane can cope with heavy loads up to 100 tonnes (110 US tons) and

has an impressive 63-tonne (69 US tons) grab curve for handling bulk materials. Depending on the operating conditions, this crane can handle as much as 1,850 tonnes (2,040 US tons) of bulk materials per hour.

Quick and easy bridge passage

When it comes to handling cargo midstream, it is mobility and flexibility that count. A crucial advantage of Gottwald cranes is that they do not have to be dismantled or tilted to pass under the bridges on the Mississippi. They can pass under bridges with their construction intact, which makes valuable savings in terms of time and expense.

Continuous expansion of Associated Terminals LLC

It was back in 2006 that Demag Cranes supplied the first floating crane to Associated Terminals LLC and it is still operating efficiently on this stretch of the river. In the intervening years, the enterprise has purchased a further five G HPK 6400 B Floating Cranes. Those cranes can be used alongside all the vessel sizes commonly in use on the Mississippi and achieve handling rates of up to 1,000 tonnes (1,100 US tons) per hour. To meet the demand for faster, more efficient handling of increasing freight volumes, the new G HPK 8400 B will, in future, move up to 1,850 tonnes (2,040 US tons) of bulk materials per hour. Bob Histon, Demag Cranes’ representative for North America, elaborated: “We are partners of enterprises that aim to define benchmarks in their industrial sector. Against this backdrop, the repeat order from Associated Terminals LLC will enable our customer to achieve his targets even more effectively using the very latest in handling technology.”

In total, 15 Gottwald Floating Cranes on the Mississippi

This, the latest investment by Associated Terminals LLC, brings to 15 the number of Gottwald cargo handling cranes working on the Mississippi from May on. Another G HPK 8400 B will follow in September. The sales and service facility of Demag Cranes, located in Tampa, Florida, provides customer-orientated support and on-the-spot project management. The experienced team working for Bob Histon, Demag Cranes’ representative, maintains no less than 200 cranes in North America and provides made-to-measure customer services which are also tailored to the specific needs of terminal-free midstream handling.

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Source: Demag Cranes, May 14, 2012