Port's Cranes Delayed, Project Still On Time

By 250 News

Three cranes, identical to the ones  shown in this picture, will soon be on their way to Prince Rupert ( photo courtesy  Prince Rupert Port Authority)

The three Panamax cranes which will dominate the Prince Rupert sky line and be the key components of the new deep port, will not arrive from China in July as was originally planned.

The 300 foot tall cranes were supposed to arrive this month, but won’t be here for another four weeks.  Prince Rupert Port officials say that doesn’t mean the project is behind schedule.

The problem isn’t in the construction of the cranes, it is in the availability of the special ships needed to transport them from the ZPMC manufacturing yard in Shanghai, China.  The next such ship available will be ready for the week to 10 day journey in August, and the cranes are expected to arrive in Prince Rupert in the middle of August.

Port spokesperson Barry Bartlett says normally, the crews continue working on the cranes while the cranes are in transit and complete the construction when the cranes arrive.  Bartlett says that work is now being done in Shanghai, and when the cranes arrive, they will be operational, so there shouldn’t be any time lost.

The cranes will rise 300 feet above the wharf and will be able to extend 200 feet to lift the 20 foot long container units off the ships and place them on to the rail cars.

The $60 million port construction project is expected to be completed September 12  that will  give the Prince Rupert Port Authority some time to  ensure any potential glitches have been  worked out before the  first  ship arrives in October.

Email | Print | Facebook | Twitter | Digg | Del.icio.us