This week the collapse of an STS Paceco crane at the pier of the company San Antonio Terminal Internacional (STI) took place, an action that is part of a modernization plan carried out by the concessionaire of Puerto San Antonio.
The procedure had strict control and security standards through specialists in this type of operation. The structure collapsed on piles of sand to cushion the impact and not damage the dock slab, as was done with the first disassembled crane on January 13.
The maneuver was coordinated by the Maritime Authority, a team from Puerto San Antonio and the STI concessionaire.
Luis Knaak, general manager of Puerto San Antonio, explained the context of this operation: “At the beginning of January, two Super Post Panamax Ship To Shore (STS) cranes and two electric RTG cranes arrived at the port, whose entry into operation will increase capacity annual container transfer to 1.6 million TEU”.
He added that “this is part of the agreement between Puerto San Antonio and STI, which injected 66 million dollars in equipment, technology and infrastructure improvement in order to extend the concession until 2030. These new cranes and the investment plan will allow the Port to maintain its competitiveness, efficiency and port leadership at the national level. STI has made a great effort to modernize its services and position itself at the forefront of terminals in Chile”.
Knaak highlighted that “the STI terminal has carried out a formidable operation to collapse these two cranes that have been in use since 1997 and we must emphasize that the work was carried out efficiently, with great professionalism and in compliance with all safety regulations. We want this to always be the way of working: in coordination and united by the same objective. In addition, here local suppliers were used to support the execution of the works, which in this case was achieved with evident success and speaks highly of the commitment that STI has with the city of San Antonio”.
reduce congestion
Along with STI’s machinery modernization plan, it is also expected that the first stage of the Alto San Antonio Transitorio (ASAT) project, led by Puerto San Antonio and which will reduce truck congestion to and from the port area, will be operational on second semester of this year.
“These actions go hand in hand with the aim of improving efficiency and boosting the increase in cargo transfer capacity. All this is part of a highly studied planning that responds to also reduce the impact generated by logistics activity in the city. The Alto San Antonio Transitorio project is supported by the Ministry of Transportation and will be key to regulating the flow of trucks to the port,” concluded Knaak.
