La Spezia Port in Italy Signs €90 Million Handling Equipment Contract

en.Wedoany.com Reported - La Spezia Container Terminal (LSCT) in Italy has signed a contract worth €90 million for the supply of container handling equipment, procuring 4 quay cranes and 18 yard handling machines. The equipment supply contract has been awarded to an unnamed Chinese manufacturer, with delivery expected to be completed within the next 24–28 months. The equipment will be used for LSCT's ongoing Ravano new terminal expansion project.

The 4 new quay cranes will be capable of serving container ships of up to approximately 24,000 TEU, and the terminal is planned to be configured to handle 3 ultra-large container vessels simultaneously. The quay cranes will integrate OCR-based automatic container identification, digital tracking of truck positions during loading and unloading, and hull profile scanning systems. The new yard equipment includes RTGs and RMGs, with the yard cranes designed for remote-controlled operation without cabs.

All newly procured equipment is planned to be electrically powered, including LSCT's first electric RTGs. The double-cantilever C-RMGs will be deployed in the new rail operating area of the Ravano project, which is planned to feature 5 rail tracks. LSCT's current rail intermodal freight volume accounts for an average of approximately 33%, and the terminal plans to increase this share to 50% once the project configuration is completed.

The equipment contract is part of LSCT's terminal modernization plan totaling approximately €350 million, with funds allocated to equipment renewal, infrastructure expansion, and overall terminal capacity enhancement. The Ravano project plans to construct approximately 524 meters of new quay line, with earlier project proposals adding approximately 600,000 TEU of annual handling capacity. LSCT's current annual handling capacity is approximately 1.4 million TEU. Major construction of the new Ravano terminal has not yet officially commenced, and this €90 million equipment contract represents the pre-construction equipment procurement and preparation milestone.

The Ravano expansion had previously completed key administrative procedures. On November 27, 2025, the Italian Council of State rejected the final appeal against the project tendering process, confirming the validity of the new terminal construction tender and eliminating the last administrative dispute hindering the project from entering the construction phase. Following the signing of this equipment contract, LSCT is simultaneously advancing pre-construction preparations and equipment manufacturing and delivery arrangements.