Puerto Aguadulce gains new mega cranes

Sociedad Puerto Industrial de Aguadulce (SPIA), a joint-venture subsidiary of International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) and PSA International, has taken delivery of two super post-Panamax quay cranes and three hybrid rubber-tyred gantry (RTG) cranes.

The cranes aim to enhance Puerto Aguadulce’s ability to handle larger vessels and growing cargo volumes at Colombia’s Pacific gateway.

The quay cranes, supplied by Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Co. Ltd. (ZPMC), are the largest of their kind in Colombia and significantly enhance the terminal’s handling capacity.

Featuring an outreach of up to 24 container rows, the cranes offer lifting capabilities of 65 tonnes in twin-lift mode and 80 tonnes in heavy-lift mode, enabling faster and more flexible operations for both mainline and regional services.

The expanded capacity is expected to improve berth productivity, reduce vessel turnaround times and provide shipping lines with increased deployment flexibility at Buenaventura, Colombia’s principal Pacific port.

For cargo owners, the investment supports more reliable schedules and improved supply chain efficiency for trade flows connecting Colombia, Latin America and Asia-Pacific markets.

On the landside, the newly delivered hybrid RTGs are designed to reduce fuel consumption by up to 75 per cent compared with conventional diesel-powered units, lowering emissions while maintaining efficient yard operations.

In September 2025, ICTSI expanded its flagship Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) fleet with the addition of eight hybrid RTGs.