The Bristol Port Company in southwest England has taken delivery of a new GB£11.4 million crane and hopper system at its Royal Portbury Dock. The arrival last week strengthens the port’s bulk cargo handling capability as overall activity levels continue to rise. The new Liebherr LPS 600 portal crane arrived aboard the heavy lift vessel Svenja after a sea voyage from Rostock, Germany, where the unit was purpose-built.
Port management said the investment followed “more than two and a half years of project management, planning and collaboration”. The crane will be positioned on Berth 6 and used to handle cargoes including animal feed and gypsum. Bristol said the new installation demonstrated a continued commitment to customers, future growth and modern infrastructure, while ensuring the port remained equipped for “future generations of trade”.
Bulk cargo focus at Royal Portbury
The new Liebherr LPS 600 crane has the capacity to handle up to 2,000 tonnes per hour in bulk cargo operations and offers a maximum outreach of 58 metres. Bristol said the equipment was also suited to breakbulk and container handling, particularly on narrower quays where space can be constrained.
According to the manufacturer, the crane can also support handling of steel coil and other general cargoes in future. Bristol Port said the investment would improve operational flexibility across the dock estate. The crane and hopper system forms part of wider infrastructure spending at Royal Portbury Dock, which has continued to expand its role in UK import and export logistics markets.
Automotive highest level since 2000
What the new crane will not be used for is the port’s continued record throughput of finished automobiles. Bristol has reported one of its busiest periods in recent years through its Global Gateway vehicle operation. During March, the port discharged a total of 65,534 vehicles, representing the highest monthly figure recorded at the facility since 2000.
The momentum continued into April, when four car carriers were berthed simultaneously at the port. Bristol described the multiple vessel calls as underlining “the scale and intensity of current operations”. The increase in vehicle activity follows completion of the port’s Plots 41 and 42 expansion project, delivered by the in-house engineering team as part of a £4.5 million investment programme.
Storage expansion supports growth
The Plots 41 and 42 project has added 5,600 vehicle storage spaces to the port estate. Bristol said the expansion increased overall finished vehicle capacity to 110,000 units, supporting continued growth in automotive logistics traffic. Royal Portbury Dock has become one of the UK’s principal gateways for finished vehicle imports and exports in recent years. The port is also known for taking delivery of the latest freight locomotives for GBRf – one of the UK’s leading rail freight operators.
The combination of expanded storage and new cargo handling equipment reflects continued investment across multiple business sectors at the port. While the Liebherr crane is primarily intended for bulk and breakbulk cargoes, the simultaneous growth in automotive throughput highlights the breadth of activity currently being handled across the Bristol operation.