The Port of Oakland released a time lapse video today with footage of the assembly of one of its new, giant ship-to-shore cranes. It takes weeks to build each crane, and the third one was completed last week. The next phase is testing the cranes and then commissioning them for work. The first of three cranes may be going into service as soon as late March or early April.
“These new cranes at Oakland are going to make a significant difference in the ability to handle cargo more efficiently,” said Port of Oakland Maritime Director Bryan Brandes. “Oakland international Container Terminal is the largest marine terminal at our port; and now it’s home to the tallest cranes that can receive the biggest ships calling North America.”
It took Longshore workers to roll the cranes off the vessel when they first arrived at Oakland. It took electrical, mechanical and structural engineers as well as iron workers and construction crane operators to “build” the cranes on site. This was a very complex process involving multiple trades.
The lift height of the new ship-to-shore (STS) cranes above the dock is 174 feet. The boom in the maintenance position is nearly vertical at 442 feet high. The boom in its “stowage” position, at a 45-degree angle, is 372 feet high.
Next steps are testing and commissioning of the cranes.