New Megamax cranes begin to arrive for Metro Vancouver port upgrade | Daily Hive

New cranes arrive at GCT Deltaport container terminal on April 20, 2025. (GCT)

Over the past weekend, the first two of six new replacement cranes arrived at the GCT Deltaport container terminal in Tsawwassen.

According to Global Container Terminals (GCT), one of the operators of the port facilities in Metro Vancouver, these are Megamax cranes — the largest and most advanced ship-to-shore cranes in North America.

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These massive cranes are equipped with high-efficiency, fully electric power systems featuring regenerative drive technology that captures and returns energy to the grid. They also include high-efficiency LED lighting, reduced reliance on hydraulic fluids, advanced maintenance systems for improved safety and reliability, remote operating capabilities to enhance operator comfort and workplace safety, and cutting-edge innovations such as real-time data.

All six giant cranes will arrive at GCT Deltaport onboard a specialized heavy-load vessel.

gct deltaport container terminal port new cranes april 2025

New cranes arrive at GCT Deltaport container terminal on April 20, 2025. (GCT)

Later this month, the first two cranes will be safely offloaded at GCT Deltaport, which would then be followed by on-site commissioning process over the next three months. The remaining four cranes will arrive through 2027.

“These are some of the largest and most technologically advanced cranes in the world, capable of servicing the largest vessels transiting our trade lanes,” said Daniel Howell, GCT COO, in a statement today.

“They provide us with exceptional flexibility to meet evolving customer needs and reinforce our ongoing commitment.”

This is part of GCT’s $170-million crane overhaul project for improving the capacity, efficiency, and sustainability of GCT Deltaport, which is Canada’s single largest container terminal. It has a capacity to handle 2.4 million twenty-foot equivalent container units (TEUs) per year, following a recent expansion of the intermodal railyard.

Upon the full completion of this crane project, GCT Deltaport will feature eight Megamax and four Super Post-Panamax ZPMC ship-to-shore cranes.

New cranes arrive at GCT Deltaport container terminal on April 20, 2025. (GCT)

In 2023, the federal and provincial governments approved Vancouver Fraser Port Authority’s new Roberts Bank Terminal 2 project — situated just west of GCT Deltaport as an extension of the man-made causeway. Construction is still years away from starting, but when complete, it will provide an additional 2.4 million TEUs of capacity to the area’s port facilities. GCT previously fought against the port authority’s new facility concept, instead proposing an alternative option of expanding its existing terminal.

Recent labour disputes involving B.C. port workers highlighted union concerns over automation, particularly the use of unmanned cranes, as a key issue during negotiations.

In 2020 and 2021, heavy-load vessels carrying giant new cranes passed under the Lions Gate Bridge to provide new cranes for the Burrard Inlet facilities in East Vancouver of Centerm terminal, operated by DP World, and Vanterm, operated by GCT.

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