A £1.1m investment in the latest hydraulic crane technology is set to boost cargo handling capabilities at the Port of Ipswich.

A new Mantsinen 95R crane, supplied by Cooper Specialised Handling, the UK’s largest independent provider of port equipment solutions, will be used mainly to load and unload fertilisers and animal feeds but can also handle aggregates.

Andy Constable, head of operations at the Port of Ipswich, part of Associated British Ports (ABP), said: “Our investment in the Mantsinen 95R offers ABP and its customers increased options in terms of flexibility and productivity because it can operate in a number of locations on the port and is capable of being moved on and off the quay and between the berths with ease.

“Throughput will have a positive impact on productivity and we will also benefit from better berth utilisation, enabling us to service more vessels which, in turn, will enhance the service we provide to our customers.”

The crane represents a customised handling solution developed specifically to operate on the port’s suspended quays. While the Mantsinen 95R can lift the same loads at the same operational radius as the DD2 quay crane it is replacing, ABP expects greater throughput due to the 95R’s fast cycle speeds, which will significantly increase the discharge and loading tonnage per hour.

The Mantsinen crane is one of five machines to go into operation at ABP facilities around the UK – a 120M crane is already in service at the Port of King’s Lynn - representing a total investment by ABP of £6m.