APL, a subsidiary of Singapore-based Neptune Orient Lines, will install four ship-to-shore gantry cranes to increase the handling capacity of its two berths at Taiwan’s Kaohsiung container port.

The container shipping company said the 90m-high, 1,650t cranes, built by Shanghai Zhenhua Port Machinery, will be installed on board the 44,770dwt semi-submersible heavy lift vessel Zhen Hua 13.

The cranes will replace the existing equipment to handle boxships up to 10,000teu and are expected to become operational by July.

APL said the cranes will have a lift capacity of up to 75t, an outreach of 22 rows and a twin-lift capability to handle two 20ft boxes at a time.

It is scheduled to start operating its first 10,000teu vessels in the next two years.