A brand-new Liebherr mobile harbour crane was shipped onboard SAL's heavy-lift carrier Imke over 4,000 nautical miles.

The LHM 550 machinery - featuring a 4.8 m-tall tower extension, a boom of 54 m, and a 144t max lifting capacity - was transported in a disassembled state to Toledo in the US state of Ohio.

It was assembled, tested, and handed over by Liebherr service engineers, joining Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority's (TLCPA) other Liebherr machines, the two bulk handling LHM 280s in service since 2010.

"The investment in a third mobile harbour crane creates a more efficient cargo handling performance at the Port of Toledo that results in shorter lay times for cargo vessels. The new crane means further growth for us, not only in the bulk sector, but also in the project cargo business sector," Thomas Winston, TLCPA's President and CEO, said.

He added, "In addition to increasing performance, the LHM 550 is an eco-efficient crane that has a Tier 4 final emissions standard and a highly efficient hydrostatic drive."

Toledo is a city in Lucas County in the northwest of the US state of Ohio, located southwest of Lake Erie, which, in turn, is part of the Great Lakes.

Photo: Liebherr