An industrial heavy-lift operation performed using Goldhofer SPMTs configured in 80 axle lines.
Marraffa has successfully completed the relocation of an 1,800-ton container crane within the Port of Gioia Tauro, one of the Mediterranean’s leading container hubs. Standing 80 meters high and 26 meters wide, the crane is among the largest in the world. The operation was carried out using Goldhofer SPMT (Self-Propelled Modular Transporters) configured in 80 axle lines, ensuring the safe movement of the massive structure across the port area.
Thanks to Marraffa’s advanced engineering, the crane successfully bypassed a geometric constraint a section of the quay inaccessible by rail—allowing it to be repositioned in a different operational area of the terminal.
Engineering and Design Challenges
The project required a detailed preliminary study conducted by Marraffa’s technical department to develop the optimal execution strategy. The primary complexity involved the crane’s geometric characteristics: with a center of gravity positioned approximately 40 meters above ground level, precise stability and load distribution analyses were mandatory.
A further layer of complexity lay in the design of the lifting and transport system. This consisted of 80 interconnected SPMT axle lines, integrated through a network of transverse and longitudinal beams and load-distribution structures specifically engineered for this operation.
The relocation was performed within tight operational spaces and under a strict schedule, ensuring full port functionality throughout all project phases. Preparation was meticulously planned to avoid interference with scheduled container loading and unloading operations.
Since the crane lacked dedicated lifting points, the heavy-lift operation required the custom study, design, and fabrication of four brackets compatible with Marraffa’s beam system. Beams were positioned beneath these brackets, enabling the hydraulic stroke of the axles to lift and transport the structure.
In 2025, the Port of Gioia Tauro set a new operational record, handling 4.5 million containers in a single year and consolidating its strategic importance in Europe. Building on its success, Marraffa had already completed the relocation of two quay cranes at this port in 2024, followed by the movement of four cranes at the Port of Trieste in 2025, confirming its leadership in STS (Ship-to-Shore) crane relocation.