Barbados Port Inc. (BPI), located in Bridgetown, has commenced the installation of new electric-powered ship-to-shore gantry cranes at Berth 6.
The latest development marks a significant phase in the construction of Berth 6, which is projected to be finalised by July.
The unloading and installation of the gantry cranes, a process that will span 11 days, is currently underway, with pre-unloading and post-discharge activities being conducted at the site.
BPI CEO David Jean-Marie said: “These cranes are vital to our success and critical to our growth. The new cranes will complement the two existing gantry cranes in operation at Berths 4 and 5, substantially increasing our capacity and efficiency in cargo handling.”
The coordination of the crane unloading and installation is being managed by representatives from the crane manufacturer, Sany, in collaboration with BPI’s terminal operations and engineering teams.
To ensure safety, a land and marine exclusion zone has been established around Berth 6 during the operation. There are no anticipated major disruptions to port or vessel activities.
Additionally, BPI is working with the Barbados Coast Guard to oversee the movement of marine traffic in and out of the Shallow Draught marina as a precautionary measure. The newly constructed berth will be dedicated to container cargo ship operations.
The project includes a 315m-long, 13m-deep berth, along with an upland development package. The package features a 9.4-acre container yard and necessary infrastructure installations to boost cargo handling capacity.
