Shannon Foynes Port Company (SFPC) has taken delivery of a new Liebherr Mobile Harbor Crane LHM 420, which was delivered fully assembled by sea from Liebherr’s factory in Rostock.
Shannon Foynes Port Company opted for a new Liebherr mobile harbor crane type LHM 420. The addition of this crane is designed to help maximize the potential of the deep water port at Foynes and contribute to the creation of up to 3,000 jobs along the Shannon Estuary. The crane was procured by Shannon Foynes Port Company through a competitive tendering process.
The new LHM 420 was delivered fully assembled to the Port of Foynes by the MV Papenburg heavy load carrier. Loading took place at the Liebherr production facility in Rostock, Germany and the sailing time to Foynes was six days. On arrival in Foynes, the crane was simply driven off the vessel by Liebherr engineers and was ready for work the same day. Traditionally, cranes would have had to be delivered in component form with a lengthy onsite assembly and testing program. This would have necessitated a large area being made available for the entire assembly process, which in turn would have hampered port activities. But with direct sea access to the factory in Rostock, Liebherr can now deliver cranes fully assembled to destinations all over the world to save customers time and inconvenience.
Noise Reduction
The new crane will primarily be used in the handling of bulk products at the port. The LHM 420 benefits from an industry-leading grab curve of 75 tonnes. This allows larger grabs to be installed, which results in increased turnover per cycle and ultimately reduced fuel consumption. To prevent dusty cargos from entering the machinery room, the crane is also fitted with a positive air pressure system that pressurizes the machinery room with clean air. In addition to bulk products, the new crane will also be handling project cargo, in particular wind turbines. Thanks to the precise handling and control offered by the Liebherr hydrostatic drive system, the LHM 420 is the ideal machine for the handling of delicate cargos like wind turbine blades. With a maximum lifting capacity of 124 tonnes, the LHM 420 will also give the port a heavy lifting capability.
Due to the port’s close proximity to the town of Foynes, the new crane had to be near silent in operation. Additional sound proofing was installed to reduce noise emissions to ensure that the crane could not be heard by nearby residents and business owners.