Matson Launches Largest Gantry Crane in Alaska

Matson Inc.'s new 65-ton-capacity gantry crane in Kodiak, Alaska ENLARGE IMAGE

August 25, 2015 - Matson, Inc. took delivery of a new 65-ton-capacity gantry crane this month, to replace one half its size at the company's Kodiak, Alaska, Terminal. Standing more than 340 ft. tall at its peak with a boom spanning 164 ft., Matson's new crane is the largest in Alaska, capable of lifting loads up to 60 ft. long and weighing up to 145,000 lbs.

 

Its state-of-the-art industrial equipment will be powered entirely by renewable energy. An electrically-powered crane that uses fly wheel technology to capture, store, and then return power as needed, the crane will run on electricity provided by the Kodiak Electric Association, which uses wind and water turbines to generate 99.9% of its power. 

 

With a price tag of more than $10 million, the new crane is one of a number of investments Matson is making to improve the services and capabilities of its Alaska operations. It has also purchased new ground equipment and ordered a fleet of new dry and insulated containers for use in Alaska.

 

Matson has also scheduled work to install new exhaust scrubber systems on the three former Horizon D7 Class vessels it now operates in Alaska. Each vessel is going into dry dock for three months, one after another, starting in September. 

Matson Inc. closed its acquisition of Horizon Lines Inc., which included Horizon's Alaska operations and the assumption of all non-Hawaii business, for $469 million (before transaction costs) on May 29, 2015. 

Matson is committed to continuing Horizon's long operating history in Alaska with a three-vessel deployment of diesel powered Jones Act-qualified containerships that provide two weekly sailings from Tacoma, Wash., to Anchorage and Kodiak, and a weekly sailing to Dutch Harbor in Unalaska, Alaska.  In addition, Matson has retained Horizon personnel and maintained operations port terminals in Anchorage, Kodiak, and Dutch Harbor, and acquired several reserve steam powered Jones Act containerships that may be used for dry-dock relief.

To see the technology in action, click on this YouTube video.