July 2 - DP World Antwerp has officially commissioned its first portal-mounted Liebherr mobile harbour crane (MHC).

The Liebherr portal slewing crane, a combination of a space-saving rail-mounted portal and mobile harbour crane, is especially useful on narrow quays and allows rail and road access beneath the portal.

The portal, model LPS 500, has a rail span of 11m, enough for a double railway track and a lifting capability of up to 104 tonnes and a maximal outreach of 51m.

In addition to the on-board diesel-hydraulic power transmission system, the crane was equipped with an electric motor and an 800m cable to allow connections to portside high voltage networks.

Before the final handover, the LPS 500 had to pass a 48-hour endurance test; DP World demanded a 98 percent reliability from the crane.