Investment continues at the UK’s Port of Tilbury (POTLL) as the London port took delivery this month of two new Sennebogen 870Ms to enhance its specialist bulk and general cargo handling capabilities.
The two mobile Sennebogen 870M cranes are specialist material handling machines capable of being deployed on a range of products including bulks, packaged cargoes and general lifting operations. The port has purchased a range of material handling attachments for the cranes, meeting the handling requirements of both current and future customers. Productivity and capability of this equipment is much greater than the traditional quayside cranes previously utilized at the port.
The machines are well known for their reliability and robustness but the main benefit of the crane is that it is not limited to specific quays — like older rail-mounted or static cranes — and allows the Tilbury team to move to any quay that suits the customer or is the closest to the quay-side storage areas.
The Sennebogen 870M is part of Sennebogen’s greenline range and the two cranes have been configured to work across the range of vessels and cargoes calling at the Port of Tilbury. The cranes have been fitted with state of the art load sensing hydraulic systems, a range of safety features and are more environmentally friendly than the previous port cranes.
The Tilbury team members are currently undergoing specialist training on the new crane equipment which will became operational in the port in September.
Commenting on the investment, Stuart Wallace, divisional director of the Port of Tilbury, said:“Our continued investment in the Port of Tilbury ensures that we deliver excellent service for our customers. We chose Sennebogen cranes as they are renowned for their reliability, productivity, straightforward maintenance and their ability to move between quays. At Tilbury we are focused on our customers’ needs and ensuring that their cargoes are loaded and discharged as fast and efficiently as possible.”
The Port of Tilbury is London’s major port providing fast,
modern distribution services for the benefit of the south east of England. Tilbury’s strategic position on the Thames provides a major geographical advantage for transport to and out of London and the South East making its location the natural point for distribution. Serving the UK’s market for forest products, general cargo, vehicles, grain and other bulks, the port offers customers excellent transport links to and from the capital and across the South East.
The port is a significant distribution centre, covering over 850 acres and is well positioned to access the M25 orbital motorway and the rest of the UK's national motorway network. In addition, there are direct rail connections within the port, with access to the whole of the UK.
The port offers:
  • 34 operational berths;
  • over 16 independent working terminals;
  • over 7.5km of quay;
  • over 500,000m2 of warehouse space;
  • over 7km of road within port estate with excellent transport access; and
  • London’s only cruise ship terminal.
The port is now recognized as Britain’s greenest port and has recently been nominated for a number of awards for the outstanding environmental initiatives which have been delivered over the past few years. This year, work will start to construct four wind turbines which will provide power not only to the port but also the national grid.
Forth Ports Limited operates eight ports: Dundee on the River Tay;Tilbury on the River Thames; and six ports on the Firth of Forth — Leith, Grangemouth, Kirkcaldy, Methil, Burntisland and Rosyth. The group also has significant property interests as well as a renewable energy division which is looking to gain planning approval for onshore wind installations and biomass facilities in its ports in Scotland. The group’s property division is involved in the long-term development and regeneration of waterfront sites within its ownership to promote a series of integrated communities.