Liebherr Delivers Two E-Port Cranes for Bulk Terminal in Bari

By combining electric drive technology with high load capacities, advanced operator cabins, and agile undercarriages, Liebherr equips Italian terminals for faster cycles, quieter operation, and locally emission-free work, provided shore power is available. With the delivery of four additional mobile harbor cranes, Liebherr solidifies its position in the expansion of Italian port infrastructure.

(Rostock) The delivery includes two LHM 550 cranes for the bulk terminal in Bari, each with a lifting capacity of 154 tons and a reach of 54 meters, equipped with an electric drive for local emission-free operation when connected to shore power.

La Nuova Meccanica Navale in Naples will receive an LHM 420 as a replacement for an older LHM 1300. This crane, with a lifting capacity of 124 tons and a reach of 48 meters, is designed for heavy shipyard work, from removing large hatch covers to the precise and rapid handling of oversized components and tools. The company chose the LHM 420 due to its reliability and maneuverability in tight quay areas.

Interporto Rivers Venezia will also receive an LHM 420 equipped with an electric drive to support bulk handling and scrap handling at its multipurpose terminal. This addition completes the terminal’s existing fleet, which consists of four Liebherr mobile harbor cranes – one LHM 250, two LHM 320, and one LHM 550 – and underscores the company’s strategy to modernize handling capacity while reducing local emissions.

Expansion of Handling Capacities in Italian Ports

The grain handling center in Bari relies on reliable high-performance unloading to supply the regional milling and pasta production for Divella Pasta. Therefore, the terminal’s focus on efficiency is supported by the performance of the LHM 550. Both cranes are also equipped with the latest cabin designed to reduce fatigue during long shifts and enhance situational awareness. LED floodlights ensure clear visibility, enabling safe and efficient handling even in poor lighting conditions. IPM Bari already operates two LHM 550 cranes and is expanding its capacity to meet growing throughput demands.

In Naples, a ship repair yard with two production facilities and a 230-meter-long floating dock will deploy the LHM 420 for critical lifting tasks, including the removal of hatch covers and the transport of heavy machinery, where its reach, lifting power, and precise positioning provide clear advantages in tight quay spaces. The decision to replace an outdated LHM 1300 with a new generation LHM 420 reflects the customer’s confidence in Liebherr’s long-term reliability and advanced performance features, ensuring that critical lifting tasks can be executed with precision and minimal downtime.

Lifting Operations in Bulk Handling and Scrap Handling

In Porto Marghera, the multipurpose platform is investing in the modernization of handling, storage, and energy consumption. The electrically driven LHM 420 complements this direction by enabling emission-free lifting operations in bulk handling and scrap handling. The decision for Liebherr was made due to the crane’s adaptability to various cargo types and its ability to seamlessly integrate into a terminal strategy focused on sustainability and operational flexibility. This underscores the operator’s commitment to establishing itself as a benchmark for efficient, environmentally friendly logistics in Northern Italy.

“Italian ports present a unique combination of requirements, from precise lifting operations in shipyards to unloading large quantities of bulk materials,” explained Andreas Ritschel, General Manager Sales Mobile Harbor Cranes at Liebherr-Rostock GmbH. “By combining electric drive options with proven reliability, we offer performance that meets operational goals and reduces local emissions where shore power is available.”

Technical Focus, Electric Performance, and Local Partnership

Liebherr’s commitment to long-term reliability in Italy is supported by collaboration with Mac Port, the company’s exclusive distribution and service partner since 2009. Mac Port operates a nationwide network for spare parts, training, and field services, ensuring rapid response times and predictable availability. With its certified processes and decades of experience in port mechanization, the company is a cornerstone of Liebherr’s customer service strategy in the region.

Throughput Goals with Quieter and Cleaner Quays

A proactive approach underscores these deliveries: Electric drives and advanced crane systems enable Italian operators to align throughput goals with quieter and cleaner quays. Beyond this delivery, existing diesel-powered cranes can be retrofitted with electric drives using Liebherr’s retrofit kit, ensuring the use of electric energy for already operational cranes. As the country’s ports invest in infrastructure and digital tools, the cranes delivered from Rostock will serve as adaptable equipment – equally effective in unloading grain, maneuvering heavy shipyard components, or switching between bulk, scrap, and containers – thus supporting the next phase of efficient and reliable maritime logistics.

Photo: © Liebherr