ARDELT Delivers New Crane System for Bulk Cargo – Port Szczecin and Strengthens Collaboration with Rhenus
ARDELT looks back on a relationship with the port location of Szczecin that has grown over several decades. The first verifiable crane deliveries to the region date back to the early 1950s. This cooperation was continuously continued and further developed after the founding of Bulk Cargo in 1994.
In total, ARDELT and its predecessor organizations have delivered more than 40 crane systems in the Szczecin region in a wide range of configurations, including more than 20 harbour cranes. The most recent ARDELT delivery to Bulk Cargo took place in 2012 and comprised a crane system with load capacities of 25/40/45 t at outreach ranges of 40/26/23 m for grab and container handling. In parallel, a close service relationship for the support of the existing installations continues to this day, with a shared focus on availability, operational safety, and long-term asset preservation.
Today, Bulk Cargo is one of the leading multipurpose terminal operators in the ports of Szczecin and Świnoujście. The company handles a wide range of bulk and general cargo, including coal, ore, grain, steel products, timber, and project cargo. With extensive port infrastructure, large storage areas, and multiple quays, Bulk Cargo represents a central operational pillar within the Polish seaport network.
In this context, the integration of Bulk Cargo into the Rhenus Group is also of particular importance. Rhenus is a strategic partner for ARDELT, with whom close cooperation exists across several port locations. Increasing group-wide alignment of processes, operating assets, and service concepts creates the basis for scalable operator solutions and long-term partnerships.
Delivery of a new crane with a lifting capacity of up to 63 tons
With the newly awarded crane system, ARDELT and Bulk Cargo are continuing their collaboration. Already in the early project phase, a jointly coordinated delivery and erection concept was developed in order to minimize the impact on ongoing port operations.
The system follows a pragmatic approach: standardization where it creates efficiency, and customer-specific design where operations require it. At the same time, the crane system is part of a coordinated operating concept within the Rhenus network. This supports more efficient spare parts management, simplified service processes, and economical operation over the entire lifecycle.
A key feature of the new system is its high multifunctionality. The crane can be flexibly deployed as a bulk handling crane with a mechanical four-rope grab, as a general cargo crane with a swivel hook, as a container crane with a suspended container spreader, or for special handling tasks, for example with an integrated magnet system.
The crane design is based on the latest state of the art, with a strong focus on operational safety, ease of maintenance, and durability. All maintenance-relevant components are designed for good accessibility. For purchased components, only well-known and predominantly European manufacturers are used, with whom ARDELT has maintained deep technical cooperation for decades.
As a fully electrically driven crane system, ARDELT solutions operate with particularly high energy efficiency. By avoiding loss-intensive energy conversions and enabling the recuperation of braking energy, overall energy consumption is further reduced. In this way, the system supports resource-efficient port operations.
With this new project, ARDELT underscores its role as a long-term technology and service partner for high-performance port solutions. At the same time, the close collaboration with Bulk Cargo – Port Szczecin and Rhenus is further deepened, with the shared goal of implementing efficient, robust, and future-proof handling solutions across multiple port locations.
