ICO boosts project cargo handling capacity in Antwerp with new LHM 550 crane

To boost its capacity to handle project cargo and containers at its terminal in Antwerp, International Car Operators (ICO), a Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) company has secured the services of a second LHM 550 crane. The unit purchased by ICO is scheduled to leave the factory in eight months.

ICO has been handling substantial volumes of out-of-gauge project cargo for years in Antwerp. However, the existing crane is technically outdated and is not fit for cargo which often exceeds 100 tonnes in weight. Additionally, about 75 per cent of the cargo handled annually at the terminal is Liebherr cargo which is delivered by barge before being distributed to various shipment berths in the port.

“At ICO, we are constantly looking ahead to ensure we have the best equipment and technology to meet the evolving needs of our customers,” says Alain Guillemyn, Managing Director at ICO Terminals. “The addition of the second Liebherr LHM 550 to our Antwerp terminal reflects our commitment to innovation and flexibility for all kinds of cargo projects. We aim to deliver efficiency and reliability across every operation, from traditional vehicle handling to complex project cargo.”

Since its inception in 2003, ICO has been at the forefront of the roll-on/roll-off cargo handling industry. At the close of 2021, they made a strategic choice to invest in a Liebherr LHM 550 mobile harbour crane for their terminal in Zeebrugge. This decision was motivated by the need to expand beyond their primary focus on car handling and to satisfy the rising customer demand for enhanced RoRo shipment of project cargoes transported by barge.

Three years on, it is clear that this was the right path to take. The first Liebherr LHM 550 handled 10,000 tonnes in its first year, 22,000 tonnes in the second, and a significant increase is anticipated in 2024. The new unit will be deployed in Antwerp, to not only boost current operations but also prepare the company for growth.