The Baltic Hub deepsea container terminal complex located in Gdansk, Poland, has marked a significant milestone in its T3 terminal expansion with the delivery of the last three Ship-To-Shore (STS) cranes.
The T3 terminal is projected to be fully operational by late 2025, which is expected to strengthen Baltic Hub’s role as the principal container hub in the Baltic Sea and position it among the largest deepsea terminal complexes across Europe.
The recently received STS cranes rank among the tallest and most advanced in Europe, measuring 96m in height (140m when the boom is elevated). They can extend across vessels up to 74m (or 26 containers wide) and are capable of lifting containers weighing as much as 65 tons to a height of 55m.
These cranes were assembled prior to their extensive 29,500km journey by sea to Poland, which commenced in December 2024. The initial four STS cranes were delivered in October 2023 and are currently undergoing testing with feeder vessels, with a deepsea vessel test call planned for early April.
In addition to the STS cranes, the T3 terminal will incorporate 20 automated rail-mounted gantry cranes (aRMGs) that are remotely operated. These cranes are intended to improve container handling efficiency and enhance safety during operations. The aRMGs will be controlled from an administrative building situated away from the yard, creating a safer working environment.
At present, 12 of the aRMGs have been assembled at the T3 yard, with four currently in live testing. The fully electric cranes align with Baltic Hub’s sustainability objectives, as the terminal exclusively utilises electricity sourced from renewable energy.
Baltic Hub CEO Jan Van Mossevelde said: “Together, these new STS cranes and our new semi-automated terminal setup will enable Baltic Hub to significantly enhance operational efficiency, safety and sustainability.
“The completion of the T3 terminal will not only support the growing demands of international trade but will also strengthen Poland’s role in the global logistics network.”
The T3 expansion is being constructed on a 36-ha artificial peninsula that connects to the existing terminals. Once completed in late 2025, this project will increase Baltic Hub’s capacity by 1.5 million TEUs, raising the total annual capacity to 4.5 million TEUs.
Furthermore, the T3 terminal will feature a quay that is 717m long and 17.5m deep, enabling it to accommodate the largest container vessels currently in operation.
In 2023, Baltic Hub placed an order with the Austrian crane manufacturer Kuenz for 20 fully automated side-loading stacking cranes for the T3 container terminal.
