Multiterminais has received two new ship-to-shore cranes for its MultiRio container terminal at the Port of Rio de Janeiro, supporting plans to raise annual capacity to 1 million TEU.
The ZPMC-built cranes arrived fully assembled on 10 June aboard Zhen Hua 15 and have been unloaded at the terminal. Commissioning is now in progress, with ZPMC technicians assisting installation and testing before the cranes enter full service, expected by August.
The investment is valued at about R$110 million, or $21 million. With the new units, MultiRio’s ship-to-shore crane fleet will increase to seven. The company said the added equipment will allow the terminal to serve two large vessels at the same time, improving berth productivity and reducing vessel turnaround times.
The upgrade comes as larger container ships are being deployed on South America’s east coast trades. MultiRio recently handled MSC Katrina, a 366 m container ship with a capacity for 13,000 TEU, the largest vessel to call at the Port of Rio de Janeiro.
Multiterminais said the new cranes will allow MultiRio to handle the largest container vessels currently operating on the east coast of South America, strengthening Rio de Janeiro’s role in regional and international container shipping.
The crane delivery forms part of a wider investment program tied to MultiRio’s concession. The company secured Container Terminal II under a 25-year concession in 1998, with a further 25-year extension approved in 2011, extending operating rights to 2048.
Under the extension, Multiterminais committed around R$200 million for expansion work. The wider program for MultiRio and the adjacent MultiCar vehicle terminal is planned at R$500 million and includes quay upgrades, storage expansion, gate improvements, and new cargo handling equipment.
Planned equipment additions include 30 rubber-tyred gantry cranes and five Super Post-Panamax portainers.
MultiRio currently has an 800 m berth, a 15.3 m draft, and a 251,000 m² terminal area. Its present annual capacity is about 670,000 TEU.
Once the expansion is completed, capacity is planned to rise by 49% to 1 million TEU per year, supporting cargo growth and strengthening the Port of Rio de Janeiro’s competitiveness among Brazil’s main container hubs.
