Six Hybrid Gantry Cranes Arrive at Latakia Port

Six modern fifth-generation gantry cranes arrived on Thursday at Latakia Port for the Latakia International Container Terminal (LICT), in cooperation with CMA CGM, under a project to upgrade the terminal's equipment, strengthen its operating capacity and speed up container handling.

Crane Details

LICT manager Faisal Huwailo said the six cranes are of the hybrid type (E-RTG) and form part of the first phase of the terminal upgrade, carried out with the General Authority for Ports and Customs. He added that the terminal previously relied on straddle carriers.

Latakia Port director Abdulhamid al-Wahab told SANA that the new cranes allow containers to be stacked vertically and make better use of the available space inside the terminal.

Impact on Handling

According to al-Wahab, the arrival strengthens the port's readiness in general cargo and containers, and supports handling efficiency and shorter vessel waiting times. He said the port handled about 4 million tonnes of cargo in the past months of 2026.

Huwailo noted that the cranes help speed up handling, ease the movement of goods in and out, and improve safety and work regularity within the port.

Upgrade Phases

Huwailo said the first phase will be completed within the next two months, while work begins in parallel on the second phase. The second phase includes offshore geotechnical studies to assess soil characteristics and sea depths, helping determine the appropriate draft and the requirements of future works.

Al-Wahab said the General Authority for Ports and Customs approach to developing the port includes raising the readiness of vehicles and equipment and staff efficiency, and developing infrastructure, smart systems and digital transformation.

Environmental Dimension

Huwailo said the hybrid cranes align with CMA CGM's goals of cutting emissions and reaching net zero by 2050, and that they will raise terminal productivity and reduce congestion.

In late September, the port received a batch of 16 modern forklifts, each with a 3-tonne lifting capacity, as part of efforts to modernise equipment.