Port Operations: Houston

Houston Commissions New Super Post-Panamax STS Crane

The Port of Houston Authority commissioned the first of four new Super Post-Panamax ship-to-shore cranes at its Barbours Cut Container Terminal on November 6.

The four, 30-story electric cranes were ordered as part of a $1 billion, five-year modernization plan that also includes dredging and land-side infrastructure and wharf improvements.

"These cranes can move a loaded container twice as fast as their predecessors," Port Authority Executive Director Roger Guenther said. "They will bring our Barbours Cut terminal capacity from 1.25 million TEUs to 2.5 million TEUs."

With a 65-long ton capacity and the ability to handle two 20-foot containers simultaneously, the new cranes’ capacity increases to 80 long tons with the use of a cargo hook. The first operational crane began discharge maneuvers with a 4,250 TEU capacity container ship.

New Super Post-Panamax ship-to-shore crane working a ship at Barbours Cut Container Terminal
Photo/Port of Houston Authority