Liebherr Delivers More Port Cranes to Porto Chibatão

The contract for the purchase of four LBS 800 cranes was signed at Intermodal 2022 in São Paulo. The cranes were delivered in September 2023 and are now part of a fleet of 16 inland ship cranes operating in the port. Founded in 1987, Porto Chibatão plays a crucial role in economic and logistical activities in the region.

(Rostock/Porto Chibatão) Porto Chibatão serves the Manaus Industrial Park, also known as the Manaus Free Trade Zone, and is of great importance for handling the increasing freight volume in the area. Since 2007, Liebherr and Porto Chibatão have been building a successful and growing business partnership. This is characterized by a growth strategy that includes the early adoption of Liebherr cranes of the FCC and LBS types in the port, which are pioneering worldwide. Today, Porto Chibatão is the largest private port and Liebherr customer for port equipment in Latin America, with 42 different cranes, including portal cranes, fixed cargo cranes, and inland ship cranes.

The port covers an impressive area of one million square meters. Its static loading capacity amounts to an impressive 40,000 TEU, demonstrating its ability to handle large volumes of cargo with ease.

The four LBS 800 cranes are equipped for container handling, with a throughput capacity of up to 35 containers per hour and can lift up to 104 tons. To provide better visibility during operation, the cranes have also been equipped with a tower extension. The cranes are based on the latest design of Liebherr’s mobile port cranes and also feature a redesigned interior cabin and an overall more digital architecture, paving the way for partial automation and future assistance systems.

Supporting Local and Global Supply Chains

Shipping and port logistics continue to play a key role in the global supply chain. The Porto Chibatão dock consists of a 1,026-meter-long floating pier or quay for the arrival and departure of ships from long-distance shipping and cabotage. The port has the capacity to accommodate eight ships with a draft of up to 20 meters simultaneously. Shipping companies such as Hamburg Süd, Maersk Mercosul Line, Log-In, CMA-CGM, and MSC call at the port. Among these are breakbulk ships and steel products destined for the Manaus industrial hub. Products include materials from the textile industry, electronics, and two-wheelers.

“As a leading port operator in Brazil, we are always looking for innovative solutions to improve our performance and sustainability,” explains Jhony Fidelis, General Director of Grupo Chibatão. “These special LBS 800 cranes from Liebherr fit perfectly with our vision as they offer high productivity and low emissions. We are proud to work with Liebherr, a company that shares our commitment to excellence and promoting environmental responsibility.”

Larger Cranes for Increasing Demands

In recent years, Porto Chibatão received the green light from Antaq, the Brazilian regulatory authority for ports and waterways, for the expansion of the floating dock from 710 meters to 1,026 meters at a cost of 98 million Reais – approximately 18.3 million Euros. The expansion is necessary to accommodate the increasing freight volume in the Manaus industrial area.

The Trend is Towards Larger Goods

The trend in freight transportation is towards larger and more goods overall. Successful ports align themselves with an effective growth strategy. It has been almost ten years since the first LBS 600 was delivered to Porto Chibatão. With the LBS 800, a new milestone has been set. And the demands of the future can already be effectively met today.

Photo: © Liebherr