Hutchison Ports BEST has commissioned two new Ship-to-Shore (STS) cranes at the Port of Barcelona, increasing its fleet of Super Post-Panamax quay cranes to 15 and strengthening the terminal’s ability to handle the world’s largest container vessels.
The two cranes, which arrived at BEST in late June, have undergone assembly, testing and commissioning and are now fully operational. Manufactured by ZPMC in China, they are the tallest STS cranes installed at the terminal to date. Each unit represents an investment of around €12 million, taking the combined investment to €24 million.
Designed for Larger Ships
The new cranes can handle vessels carrying containers across 26 rows and provide 55 metres of clearance under the spreader. Their design is intended to improve flexibility and productivity during vessel loading and unloading operations, supporting BEST’s response to the continuing growth in containership size.
With the latest additions, BEST now operates 15 Super Post-Panamax STS cranes, alongside 68 automated yard cranes and 40 shuttle carriers. The terminal has around 1,500 metres of quay line and a maximum draft of 16.5 metres.
Further Expansion Planned
The crane expansion forms part of BEST’s wider investment programme to increase terminal capacity and automation. The company plans to add three more STS cranes by the end of 2028, taking the total fleet to 18.
BEST is also planning additional automated container storage capacity. Six new automated blocks are scheduled to be added, increasing the number of blocks from 34 to 40, with completion expected in the second half of 2027. The expansion is part of a broader investment programme estimated at about €140 million.
The terminal’s expanded crane and yard capacity is expected to support higher container volumes while improving operational flexibility and service levels for shipping lines calling at Barcelona.