Chinese port equipment company ZPMC has dispatched the last shipment of ship-to-shore (STS) cranes to the Colombo East Container Terminal in Sri Lanka.
The delivery is part of a project aimed at enabling the terminal to manage larger and more diverse vessels. The final set, which includes three quay cranes and automated rail-mounted gantry (ARMG) cranes, is being transported on the vessel Zhenhua 28.
The cranes, produced and delivered by ZPMC, are part of a $282m investment that includes a total of 12 STS cranes and 40 ARMG cranes. The quay cranes reach a height of 95m, with a lifting capacity extending 55m above the rail and 20m below. The ARMG cranes are capable of handling loads of up to 40 tonnes.
The expansion initiative is part of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority’s strategy to enhance its status as a key maritime hub in the Indian Ocean. Phase I of the terminal has been operational since October 2020, while Phase II, constructed by China Harbour Engineering and Access Engineering PLC, commenced in 2022. By mid-2025, the terminal is projected to manage up to 3.5 million TEUs annually once fully operational.
This dispatch marks a significant period for ZPMC at the Port of Colombo. Recently, operations began at the Colombo West International Terminal, the port’s first fully automated deepwater terminal, equipped with three ZPMC STS cranes, eight ARMGs, and 17 intelligent guided vehicles.
Furthermore, ZPMC has announced the completion of the Hainan Yangpu International Container Hub port expansion, with the first batch of eight quay cranes and 23 rubber-tyred gantry (RTG) cranes now operational. In total, ZPMC will supply 14 intelligent quay cranes and 42 RTGs for the Hainan Free Trade Port.
