Berth 5/6 inaugurated: Container Terminal Burchardkai ready for 18,000-TEU ships

Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA) inaugurated the berth 5/6 at its Container Terminal Burchardkai (CTB) today. State-of-the-art container gantry cranes make it possible to handle ships with a capacity of 18,000 standard containers (TEU) there. The CTB is thus prepared for the latest generation of mega-ships.

Dr. Stefan Behn, member of the Executive Board of Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG and responsible for the Container segment, emphasises the importance of the new berth: ‘With the new berth 5/6, we are able to handle the world’s largest container ships quickly and efficiently. The increase in handling capacity helps us to manage the peak loads caused by the ever-growing number of increasingly larger ships. Our customers can therefore also even better keep the container mega-ships on their tight schedules. The development of ships’ sizes confirmes our timely decision to rebuild the Container Terminal Burchardkai without interrupting normal operations, thus gradually increasing its capacity to over five million standard containers and making sure it is in the best-possible condition for the future. The new berth is a central component of this project, which underpins HHLA’s claim to technological leadership.’

Berth 5/6 is equipped with five of the most modern tandem container gantry cranes in the world. The new gantry cranes, from the Chinese manufacturer ZPMC, are designed for container ships with 24 transverse container rows. Thanks to their 74-metre jibs, they are very well equipped to handle the 23 container rows of 18,000-TEU ships. The new cranes can also operate in tandem mode. One hub makes it possible to move two 40-foot containers or four 20-foot containers. Each gantry crane weighs 2,400 tonnes and can handle a maximum payload of 110 tonnes. Berth 5/6 is 595 metres long. A total of more than 1,400 metres of quay and 15 container gantry cranes are available at CTB’s port of Waltershof to handle the mega-ships. The new quay walls have a load-bearing capacity of approximately 1,000 kilonewtons. Each container gantry crane weighs 2,400 tonnes. To build them, approximately 280,000 m3 of sand were rinsed and a 22-metre-wide stem was built. Total capital expenditure amounted to € 85.5 million.

Further key elements of the ongoing expansion programme at the CTB, which has been running since 2004, include the control centre and the container rail terminal, which has been in operation since 2006 and is one of the most modern in Europe. Modern, semi-automatic block storage facilities increase storage capacity by up to two and a half times that of a traditional straddle carrier yard. Every one of the 380-metre long storage blocks has a capacity of up to 2,200 TEU. Eight storage blocks are already in operation since the end of 2012. Additional storage capacity will be created over the coming years adjusted to the demand. The 29 storage blocks that will be available after work is completed should provide space for 60,000 TEU.

Process managers, ship planners and storage block managers, in addition to others, work together in the newly built control centre. They are responsible for all planning and managerial processes as part of operating activities. Thanks to this connected and coordinated work in process management, it is not just the current day-to-day activities that are completed more efficiently; a continuous improvement of all processes is also taking place.

In July, HHLA announced that 50 additional new employees would be taken on at the Container Terminal Burchardkai. This should help to overcome the ever-increasing volumes and to reduce the burden on the current employees.

About HHLA

Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA) is a leading port logistics group in Europe. With its Container, Intermodal and Logis¬tics segments, HHLA is positioned vertically along the transport chain. Efficient container terminals, high-capacity transport systems and a full range of logistics services form a complete network between the overseas port and its European hinterland.

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