Earlier this year, Hoist also took the decision to revamp its offering. By merging the publication with its North American sister title OCH we are now able to bring readers the latest market intelligence 12 times a year. But we want to improve.
A monthly publication covering a global market inevitably means that we are limited in how much we can cover each issue. Which is why we give The Americas and Canada the lead feature focus, alternating each issue with Europe and the international sector. But aside from a geographical perspective, we appreciate that certain sectors, technologies, fields, and professions deserve more coverage in Hoist. And that’s where we want your help.
You can, of course, contact me on my email address at: timothy.sheahan@progressivemediagroup.com as well as on +0044 (0) 207 406 6629. And in my conversations with the industry, I will continue to pursue a dialogue on what you want from your magazine and where those changes can be made. For that, I thank you in advance.
In this issue, the last of 2015, we look at one of the great transport infrastructure projects, the Panama Canal expansions. For nearly a decade a major expansion project has been widening the famous Panama canal, primarily by adding new larger locks. When complete next year the ships coming through will be up to 50% wider than before, deeper in draught and longer than the previous "Panamax" limits.
Adrian Greeman writes that Post- or New Panamax ships are based on lock dimensions of 427m in length, 55m beam, and 18.3m depth of water. For container vessels that can mean cargoes of up to around 13,000 standard container twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), almost treble current 5000 capacities.
These relative giants impose new demands on the ports where they are loaded and unloaded; deeper water is required and longer jetties, larger yard storage and better transshipment facilities. Above all of course, they require bigger cranes to both clear their greater height and to reach across many more rows of containers perhaps 19 or 20 against 12-14 before. If possible they need to be faster too, to shift much greater numbers of containers and turn the vessels around in good time.
We also look at how Rolls-Royce has called on Spanish manufacturer Elebia to supply its automatic hooks for lifting and rigging operations. Elsewhere, we place the spotlight on Virgin Atlantic Airways, which has taken delivery of a Valla Manitex 1725 48ES 22-tonne DC electric crane that is claimed to have significantly improved its aircraft capabilities. Until next year, enjoy the issue.
