Colombo West International Terminal takes delivery of two 74-metre-outreach ZPMC cranes capable of handling Megamax vessels
Colombo West International Terminal (CWIT) has taken delivery of two ship-to-shore (STS) container cranes manufactured by Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries (ZPMC), strengthening the terminal’s capability to handle the world’s largest container vessels at the Port of Colombo, Sri Lanka.
The electric STS cranes feature a 74-metre outreach, making them the largest of their kind in the South Asia region. Their extended reach enables CWIT to service Megamax container vessels of more than 24,000 TEU, while advanced automation capabilities support remote operation and enhance terminal efficiency.
Richard Phillips, Mechanical Engineer at Casper, Phillips & Associates (CP&A), which conducted the independent design review, highlighted the scale and capability of the new equipment.
“The CWIT cranes are impressive; they are the biggest in the South Asia region,” Phillips said. He added that the 74-metre outreach enables the cranes to handle vessels larger than conventional Megamax ships and places them among the region’s tallest electric STS cranes.
The cranes have also been engineered to withstand storm wind speeds exceeding Sri Lanka’s local environmental requirements, providing additional safety margins and making the equipment suitable for terminals exposed to more severe storm conditions.
The latest delivery forms part of Adani Group’s multi-port crane procurement programme, aimed at expanding and modernising cargo-handling infrastructure across its port network.
A further four STS cranes are at an advanced stage of delivery for Adani, while nine additional crane procurement projects are progressing across its Indian port portfolio.
The wider programme includes STS cranes from Qingdao Haixi Heavy-duty Machinery (HHMC) for Kandla, three separate sets of Sany STS cranes and RTGs for Mundra’s T3, CT3 and CT5 berths, Sany cranes for Vizhinjam International Seaport, and Wuxi Huadong Heavy Machinery (HDHM) RMGs for Mundra and Vizhinjam.
The deployment of high-capacity, automated cranes across these terminals is expected to support growing container volumes, improve vessel turnaround capabilities and strengthen Adani’s position in the regional transshipment and container logistics market.
The arrival of the new cranes at CWIT marks another step in the development of Colombo as a major regional container hub, with the terminal gaining equipment capable of serving the next generation of ultra-large container vessels.