Associated British Ports (ABP) is investing £6m in new hydraulic cranes from Finnish firm Mantsinen for five of its ports including Ipswich.

Among them will be the first example of the world’s largest hydraulic crane, the 280-tonne Mantsinen 200M, to be installed in the UK, which is being purchased for the Port of Garston, near Liverpool.

Other orders placed through Mantsinen UK distributor Cooper Specialised Handling include a 95R tracked crane for use at the Port of Ipswich, a 90M wheeled crane for the Port of Teignmouth in Devon and two 120M cranes, for the ports of Swansea and King’s Lynn.

ABP Short Sea Ports director Andrew Harston said: “ABP is dedicated to putting our customers first.

“That is why we are continuing to invest in brand new equipment and technology to ensure we can offer our customers the highest possible standards of service and innovative solutions.”

He added: “We have been pleased to work with Cooper Specialised Handling. Each port has its own handling needs dependent on vessel sizes, load commodities and in some cases, very specific ground loading requirements.”

Tony Rooney, managing director of Cooper Specialised Handling, said: “This wasn’t a single contract for five machines, but rather five individual contracts each involving the provision of one crane.

“The five ABP sites had complete freedom of choice in terms of their handling solution and we are delighted that, completely independently, each port selected Mantsinen as its preferred equipment,” he added.

The new hydraulic cranes, the delivery of which will begin next month, are part of a five-year, £1bn investment programme by ABP across its 21 ports. The group’s investment at the Port of Ipswich this year already totals more than £2m, including five new MRS cargo handling grabs, to help handle an increase in dry bulk trade, together with new forklift trucks and loading shovels.