The Port Authority of the Cayman Islands has taken delivery of a new purpose-built maritime cargo crane, a long-awaited upgrade that officials say will significantly improve safety, efficiency and reliability at the Cayman’s busiest commercial port.
The Konecranes Gottwald harbour crane, manufactured in Germany and shipped from the Port of Antwerp, arrived in Grand Cayman on 29 Nov. The $5-million investment forms a central element of the Port Authority’s multi-year cargo modernisation strategy, replacing ageing modified construction cranes that have long struggled to keep pace with growing demand.
Minister for Planning, Lands, Agriculture, Housing & Infrastructure Jay Ebanks welcomed the crane’s arrival as “a major step in strengthening Cayman’s supply chain”, saying the equipment will make cargo operations faster, safer and more reliable for businesses and the public.
Port Authority Chairman Cline Glidden Jr. said the upgrade was urgently needed, noting that the two existing dockside cranes are more than 30 years old and increasingly unreliable.
“When one of the old cranes broke down recently, port workers were out there day and night to keep the imports flowing,” he said. “The team has done an incredible job despite the difficult circumstances.”
Glidden said the older cranes, never designed for harbour use, have become unstable when lifting containers from certain angles, and replacement parts are now so scarce that some must be custom-fabricated. One crane’s boom was recently found to be significantly corroded.
Port Director Paul Hurlston praised staff who travelled to Germany for factory training to ensure the crane can be operated and maintained to international standards from day one. Six operators are now certified.
The Port Authority also invested $200,000 to resurface the southern section of the dock, where years of oil leakage from the older cranes had left the area pitted and deteriorated.
Hurlston and Deputy Port Director Brevan Elliott said additional upgrades remain critical. Ten of the port’s container handlers are more than 30 years old, trucks are ageing out and the crane in Cayman Brac is over 48 years old. Two new harbour patrol boats are expected to arrive in February.
With cargo volumes increasing by roughly 5% annually and limited space on the George Town dock, which must accommodate cruise tenders by day and cargo by night, Hurlston warns that continued investment is essential.
“Our economy depends on a resilient, efficient port,” he said. “This crane is a major step, but more work lies ahead.”
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