en.Wedoany.com Reported - Liebherr has secured an order to supply seven ship-to-shore (STS) container cranes for the Sparrows Point Container Terminal in Baltimore, USA. This project is one of the largest privately financed container terminals in the United States and will significantly enhance port handling capacity.
The cranes were ordered by Tradepoint Atlantic and TiL Terminal LLC for the new terminal at the Port of Baltimore. The container facility covers 168 acres and is located within a 330-acre redevelopment area on the former Bethlehem Steel site. The project plan includes a new container terminal, an intermodal yard, and supporting facilities.
The Sparrows Point development is expected to increase the container handling capacity of the Port of Baltimore by approximately 70%. This capacity change will significantly impact how shippers, carriers, and inland logistics providers view this port gateway. The total investment in the project is approximately $1.2 billion, with construction beginning earlier this year. Tradepoint Atlantic and TiL held a groundbreaking ceremony on May 1, 2026. In addition to adding berths, the terminal is planned to be equipped with rail handling capabilities, providing cargo owners with a more efficient channel connecting maritime services to inland markets such as the Midwest.
The seven Liebherr STS container cranes are specifically designed to handle ultra-large container vessels and can support simultaneous operations on two ships. The technical specifications of each crane include a 70-meter outreach, a 25-meter backreach, and a 51-meter lift height above rail, a configuration critical for managing large vessel berthing. Ammar Kanaan, CEO of Terminal Investment Limited, stated that the project will not only add capacity and efficiency for the local community but also for the broader Mid-Atlantic and Midwest regions. Developments like Sparrows Point are significant for the future of the US supply chain.
Sparrows Point was originally a steel mill operated by Bethlehem Steel for over a century and closed in 2012. Its redevelopment into a container and logistics hub provides an opportunity for the port to significantly increase alongshore throughput capacity in a mature cargo area. Declan O'Sullivan, Managing Director of Sales at Liebherr Container Cranes Ltd., stated that this order reflects the scale of investment in the Sparrows Point project and Liebherr's ability to provide crane systems for large-scale terminal developments. Tom Caso, Vice President of Tradepoint Atlantic, noted that Liebherr's experience in providing reliable crane solutions has strengthened the project partners' confidence in developing Sparrows Point into a global trade gateway.
For Liebherr, this order further solidifies its position in the US port equipment market. The company stated that this order brings the total number of STS container cranes ordered for the US market since 2020 to 27. Shane Kuhlmey, Director of the Liebherr USA division, stated that this project highlights the continued confidence in Liebherr's expertise and products in the US market. In terminal operations, cranes are key to achieving vessel loading and unloading efficiency, and these seven STS cranes will directly determine whether the terminal can translate its planned capacity into stable and reliable container throughput.
