BEST boosts Barcelona crane capacity

Hutchison Ports BEST has expanded its container-handling capacity at the Port of Barcelona with two new ship-to-shore quay cranes, strengthening the terminal’s ability to handle increasingly large vessels and growing international trade.

The cranes, manufactured by ZPMC in China, arrived at the terminal at the end of June and have since been assembled, tested and commissioned.

Their addition brings BEST’s quay crane fleet to 15 super Post-Panamax units, supported by 68 automated cranes and 40 shuttle carriers.

“What these two cranes represent goes far beyond the addition of two new assets,” said Guillermo Belcastro, chief executive of Hutchison Ports BEST.

“They mean greater capacity for our customers, higher productivity for the terminal and more flexibility to respond to an increasingly demanding environment.”

Designed to handle vessels of up to 26 container rows, the new cranes provide 55 metres of height under the spreader. Their goose-neck design, described by BEST as the largest of its kind worldwide, is expected to improve the efficiency and flexibility of quay loading and unloading operations.

The investment forms part of BEST’s wider development strategy as container ships continue to increase in size and capacity. The terminal operates along 1,500 metres of berth line with a 16.5-metre draught, providing infrastructure for high-volume container operations.

BEST is also in the midst of an expansion scheduled for completion by the end of 2027. The project will add six automated blocks, while the company has separately announced plans to purchase three additional quay cranes.

Together, the developments are expected to significantly increase the terminal’s handling capacity and operational resilience while strengthening the Port of Barcelona’s position as an international logistics hub.

A key component of BEST’s connectivity is its eight-track rail facility, the largest among Mediterranean ports, linking Barcelona with major national and European logistics corridors.

The terminal currently handles more than 30 weekly vessel calls connecting it with major global ports.