The addition of these two state-of-the-art cranes strengthens BEST’s capacity to serve the world’s largest container vessels and further consolidates its position as one of the most efficient and best-connected terminals in the Mediterranean.
Barcelona, Spain – 3 September 2026: Hutchison Ports BEST today held an event at its facilities in the Port of Barcelona to mark the arrival of two new STS quay cranes, a milestone in the terminal’s continued development.
The event was attended by senior authorities and institutional representatives, including Mr Óscar Puente, Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility; Mr Miquel Sàmper, Minister of Business and Labour of the Government of Catalonia; Mr Jordi Valls, Fourth Deputy Mayor for Economy, Housing, Finance and Tourism of Barcelona City Council; Ms Alba Bou, Mayor of El Prat de Llobregat; and Mr José Alberto Carbonell, President of the Port of Barcelona, as well as other institutional representatives and members of the port community.
The two new cranes arrived at BEST at the end of June and have since undergone the necessary preparation, assembly, testing and commissioning to become fully operational at the terminal. Their incorporation forms part of BEST’s growth strategy to meet the needs of international trade and accommodate the increasing size and capacity of container vessels.
Under the event slogan, “Much more than Two”, BEST highlighted that the addition of two new cranes means far more than two new pieces of equipment: greater capacity, greater efficiency, stronger connectivity and renewed momentum to support the growth of its customers and the Port of Barcelona.
“What these two cranes represent goes far beyond the addition of two new assets. They mean greater capacity for our customers, higher productivity for the terminal and more flexibility to respond to an increasingly demanding environment. Above all, they will make BEST a more resilient terminal, better prepared to anticipate future challenges and continue offering a reliable, efficient and competitive service,” said Guillermo Belcastro, CEO of Hutchison Ports BEST.
The new equipment, manufactured by ZPMC in China, consists of Ship-to-Shore cranes designed to operate vessels of up to 26 container rows and with a 55-metre height under spreader. They are also the world’s largest cranes with a goose neck design, a feature that will increase the efficiency, productivity and flexibility of quay loading and unloading operations.
With the arrival of these two units, BEST increases its fleet to 15 Super Post-Panamax quay cranes, together with 68 automated cranes and 40 Shuttle Carriers, operating along 1,500 metres of berth line and with a draught of 16.5 metres.
During the event, institutional and company representatives highlighted the importance of continuing to invest in port infrastructure capable of strengthening the competitiveness of the economy, improving the connectivity of logistics chains and consolidating the role of the Port of Barcelona as a strategic hub for international trade.
BEST has consolidated its position as a world-class benchmark terminal thanks to its operational capacity on the quay and an eight-track rail facility, the largest among Mediterranean ports, which connects the Port of Barcelona with the main national and European logistics corridors.
With more than 30 weekly calls connecting the terminal with the world’s main ports, BEST strengthens, through these new cranes, its ability to offer efficient, reliable and sustainable solutions to shipping lines, shippers and logistics operators.
The arrival of these cranes is also part of a vision of responsible growth based on innovation, semi-automation and energy efficiency, pillars that have positioned BEST as one of the most technologically advanced port projects in Spain and one of the most sustainable terminals in the world.
In addition, the terminal is currently undergoing an expansion phase that will be completed by the end of 2027 with the addition of six automated blocks. This expansion, together with the recent announcement of the purchase of three new quay cranes, will mark the completion of the first phase of the project and decisively strengthen BEST’s capacity, efficiency and competitiveness.
With this new milestone, Hutchison Ports BEST strengthens its position as a strategic partner for shipping lines, shippers and logistics operators, offering a terminal ready to grow alongside its customers, connect Barcelona with the main international markets and respond to the challenges of global trade with efficiency, reliability and a forward-looking vision.
