by Kimberly K. Aguillard//
On March 18, 2016, the Port of Gulfport staff waited patiently for the first glimpse of their three new ship-to-shore gantry cranes to appear among the fog and rain. Though having the cranes arrive on a much sunnier day would have been nice, the excitement that filled the air will never be forgotten for those that had the opportunity to witness their arrival in person.
The arrival of the cranes was a monumental moment for the Port’s $570 million Restoration Project and ushered in a new era for the Port of Gulfport. Once in commission, the cranes will allow the Port’s existing and future tenants to more efficiently service their vessels while also reducing tenant operating costs, which will be a win for all parties involved.
In the months leading up to the cranes arriving in Gulfport, the question came up on what exactly a gantry crane was and what did it do? Well, according to the American Association of Port Authorities, the definition of a gantry crane is a track-mounted, shore-side crane utilized in the loading and unloading of break-bulk cargo, containers and heavy lift cargo. In layman’s terms, a very large crane that can handle up to 65 tons or 146,000 pounds!
These cranes are a game changer for the Port of Gulfport and their arrival highlights the anticipated completion of the Restoration Project and the beginning of the business development and implementation phases of the project.
For those that don’t get to see the cranes up close on a daily basis, the Port will be opening their gates again to the public on Thursday, June 9 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. for their Community Tours. Coast Transit Authority will be providing transportation for the tours and the buses will depart from in front of the Hancock Bank building located at 2510 14th Street in downtown Gulfport. Each tour is expected to last 30 minutes and reservations are not required.
For more information about the progress happening at the Port of Gulfport visit www.shipmspa.com or follow on Facebook and Twitter by searching “Port of Gulfport.”