Finnish company Konecranes has won a contract from Turkish port operator Yilport Holding to refurbish 23 cranes at Taranto Port in Italy.

The contract is part of Yilport’s strategy to turn Taranto Port into a new Mediterranean shipping hub.

According to the contract, Konecranes will recommission seven ship-to-shore (STS) cranes and 16 rail-mounted gantry (RMG) cranes that are not in operation.

The company will first reposition the STS cranes 100m down the quay so that they can start operations.

Most of the RMG cranes will undergo recommissioning in the first half of this year, while the other RMGs will begin operations by the end of the year.

Yilport owner Robert Yildirim said: “We have strong ambitions in the Mediterranean. The opportunities presented by Taranto port require tremendous focus and we are pleased to have Konecranes on board.

“We look forward to having the port back in full operation by the end of 2020, with more exciting reinvestment plans to follow.”

Last year, Yilport Holding signed a concession agreement with Port Network Authority of the Ionian Sea (PNAIS) to manage a multipurpose terminal at the Port of Taranto.

According to the agreement, Yilport will manage all terminal operations for 49 years.

In August last year, DP World awarded a contract to Konecranes to retrofit electrification to a Model 2 Konecranes Gottwald Mobile Harbour crane in its Liège Container Terminal in Belgium.

In April, US Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) approved the acquisition of 20 rubber-tired gantry (RTG) cranes for the Port of Savannah from Konecranes.