PHILIPSBURG--The Port of St. Maarten has acquired the largest mobile crane – a Terex Gottwald Model 6 – in the Northeastern Caribbean.
Several pieces of the Terex Gottwald Model 6 Crane were offloaded from the motor vessel Schippersgracht in St. Maarten over the weekend. The crane was transported from Germany and will be part of the operations at the cargo section of Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise and Cargo Facility.
Once the crane was offloaded on Sunday, assembly efforts started onsite immediately by Germany Gottwald technicians and Port St. Maarten Gottwald-certified crane experts. The new crane is estimated to be up and running (assembling, erection and commissioning) in four to six weeks, the Port said in a press release on Monday.
A small ceremony was held on Sunday during which Port and RBC Bank representatives witnessed transfer of the equipment. Port St. Maarten's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mark Mingo pinned RBC Royal Bank representatives Raquel Lo Fo Wong and Peter Beishuizen with the Port's official pin as a token of appreciation during the ceremony.
Mingo told the gathering that the cargo section was a 24/7 operation. "It's all about serious business here at the port where cargo movements represent a big chunk of the revenues generated by Port St. Maarten," he said.
He said the process to develop and expand cargo operations had begun in 2008. "We started with RBTT Merchant Bank which later became RBC Bank, who I consider a real partner," he said, thanking RBC for believing in the port.
"My management style here at Port St. Maarten has been about believing in your people. You have to be able to connect with your staff, because it is the people that bring success to a company. You also have to listen to your customers about their needs and requirements and then as a port you look at how we can facilitate the business development aspect in an efficient and effective manner," Mingo said.
He also thanked the Supervisory Board of Directors for its role in seeing the need for expansion for the Port to remain "ahead," as well as the Port's Chief Financial Officer Ton van Kooten and Terminal and Cargo Operations Manager Roger Lawrence for their "steadfast guidance" in ensuring the completion of the purchasing and technical/shipping process.
The Port sold its 14-year-old HMK 260E Gottwald known as Crane 1 to a group in Mexico via broker Pacific Handling Systems Inc. The crane was loaded onboard the cargo vessel BBC Congo for a six-day voyage to Mexico in July.
The acquisition of the Terex Gottwald Model 6 Mobile Harbour Crane and the additional Bromma spreaders will bolster the Port's position and continue to expand its cargo-related activities and footprint in the Northeastern Caribbean region, the Port said in a press release on Monday.
By trading in the older version Model 4 Gottwald Crane for a newer Model 6 crane with an outreach of 15 across and load capacities of 125 tonnes, Port St. Maarten will be able to properly accommodate and continue to grow its footprint within the Northeastern Caribbean region, the release said.
The Terex Gottwald Model 6 harbour crane is high performance for higher handling rates and is part of the large crane family from Terex Port Solutions. It can be used on ships up to post-Panamax and Capesize Bulker class.
The Model 6 crane is equipped with the technical and ergonomic functions and features required to improve productivity, environmental compatibility and facilitate operation to boost economical and sustainable cargo handling in ports and terminals. The Port crane staff is already trained in using this model crane.
The Port has invested over the years in cargo, where infrastructure, dredging and upgrading of cranes are concerned as well as training of staff leading to six local certified operators and supervisors.
The Port serves Anguilla, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis and Antigua and Barbuda. It is in the process of developing "a special relationship" with the Caribbean Netherlands islands of Saba and St. Eustatius as it relates to port handling, operations, economic development and sustainability. Both islands receive their cargo shipments/services from St. Maarten.
