Diederik Schretlen
Junior Project Manager Equipment
Read time
4 min read
Date
6/26/2026
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When a container terminal decides to invest in new ship-to-shore (STS) cranes, automated stacking cranes (ASCs), or a new fleet of horizontal transport, the temptation is to focus entirely on the machinery. The manufacturer's brochures are impressive, the eco-friendly specifications promise a lower carbon footprint, and the business case looks flawless on paper.
However, procuring port equipment is completely different to buying a fleet of trucks from a brochure. Port equipment are custom-engineered machines that operate in a highly constrained physical and digital environment. If the upfront procurement phase is not managed effectively, there is a severe risk of ending up with inefficient machinery, major operational bottlenecks, high retrofitting costs, or equipment that the terminal simply cannot support.
A successful procurement process does not begin with the type of machine, but rather with the precise requirements and the desired operational outcome.
The foundation of any successful procurement project lies in a solid business case and precise technical specifications. Developing a comprehensive business case at the very beginning of the process allows a terminal to evaluate on paper what the exact operational and financial impact of such an investment will be. This business case provides a clear picture of the expected return on investment, long-term cost savings, and operational improvements before any technical work begins.
Regarding technical specifications, a common mistake is copying and pasting specifications from a previous project or relying too heavily on standard supplier configurations. To achieve maximum return on investment, the process must begin with a clear description of the functional intent and the qualitative goals of the operation. For example, this involves clarifying whether the primary objective is to decouple vessel and yard operations to increase flexibility, or if the focus lies on driving a shift toward fully automated horizontal transport. From this definition onwards, the goal is to translate these objectives into strict, quantitative parameters that define success in measurable terms.
When determining the technical specifications, terminals must explicitly outline:
• Technical dimensions: Precise outreach, back reach, lifting height, and safe working loads (SWL) under twin-lift, tandem-lift, or interlocking configurations.
• Performance metrics: Exact cycle times, hoist and trolley speeds, acceleration rates, and a guaranteed number of moves per hour under specific operational conditions.
• Operational process: The operational concept of the entire terminal. This allows the manufacturer to observe the holistic process and fully grasp the exact purpose and environment of the equipment.
Including these exact targets in the contract eliminates any uncertainty. It forces manufacturers to design a solution tailored to the set performance goals instead of selling an off-the-shelf model.
However, even the most technologically advanced, high-performance crane will not function properly if the terminal’s physical environment is incapable of supporting its requirements. Within port development, civil infrastructure serves as a critical determinant of success, and it represents the fundamental baseline upon which the viability of the entire project depends.
All too frequently, civil infrastructure is treated as a secondary priority, resulting in severe project delays and additional costs. Therefore, it is highly important to ensure proper integration with the civil works regarding critical parameters.
These parameters include:
• Structural capacity and wheel loads: Verifying that existing civil works can withstand the heavy exerted dynamic and static loads, while also accounting for long-term material fatigue.
• Spatial dimensions and interfaces: Ensuring proper physical alignment between the terminal’s infrastructure and the equipment components that interact directly with it to prevent operational issues.
• Power supply adequacy: Confirming that the local electrical grid and substations deliver sufficient continuous capacity, to safely accommodate abrupt spikes in peak power consumption.
Ensuring correct civil infrastructure installation requires multiple parties to be brought together. If the equipment specifications fail to respect the boundaries of the civil infrastructure, the project will stall before the assets are even delivered.
Setting strict quantitative targets during the procurement phase is only the first step; the real challenge lies in enforcing them. Defining these measurable targets upfront in the contract establishes a clear benchmark for the entire project. This transforms the commissioning phase from a subjective evaluation into a transparent checklist for approval or rejection. Through structured factory acceptance testing (FAT) and site acceptance testing (SAT), the manufacturer must prove that every parameter is met. For example, if the equipment fails to reach the guaranteed moves per hour or exceeds power consumption limits during these tests, the terminal holds the contractual leverage to demand improvements before the formal handover. Testing against hard numbers ensures that the final delivery matches the investment, protecting operational efficiency from day one.
Ultimately, there is no standard template for procuring port equipment. Every terminal is different, with its own specific layout, software systems, local conditions, and changing peak hours. Therefore, a successful project always requires a customized approach built around these exact factors.
Managing this complex process requires close collaboration between purchasing departments, civil engineers, and the operational teams. Given the high costs of upgrading a terminal, guesswork must be completely replaced by hard data and smart operational planning.
This is precisely where Solid Port Solutions can deliver decisive value. Instead of evaluating the equipment on its own, the entire operational, financial, and structural part is reviewed from the very start. While combining our deep engineering and operational expertise, we assist in establishing and testing functional and quantitative parameters and guiding the client through the end-to-end procurement. Our ultimate objective is to guarantee that the hardware delivered perfectly reflects the daily operational realities of the terminal.
Planning for new equipment on your terminal? Get in touch with us via the link below!
