On Thursday 31st August 2006 the 233.6m (loa) Chinese vessel ZHEN HUA 1 loaded with 4 New Super Post-Panamax Gantry Cranes as deck cargo arrived at Marsaxlokk Harbour bound to Malta Freeport Terminals assisted by Tug Malta tugs. She left Shanghai, China in June and were manufactured by the internationally renowned crane manufacturer ZPMC.
With a capability of handling containerships stacking 24 containers across the vessel, these cranes have an outreach of 65.5 metres, an air draught of 39 metres, a lifting capacity of 65 tonnes and are capable of handling twin-lift spreaders simultaneously. One of these Cranes was discharged on the South Quay of Terminal Two whilst the other three on the North Quay of Terminal One. To be able to install these Cranes on Terminal One, Malta Freeport Terminals had to undertake infrastructural works at this Terminal for the fitting of a 600 metre long rail with a 30 metres span.
ZHEN HUA 1 was originally built as the crude oil tanker TITAN at JMU Tsurumi Works at Yokohama, Japan. Her homeport was Kingstown flying St. Vincent Grenadines flag (VCT).
Photos by Capt. Lawrence Dalli. Do not use these images without my permission. © All rights reserved. Malta Ship Photos & Action Photos – www.maltashipphotos.com
Published – Monday 28th October 2019