1,800-tonne Container Crane Relocation at the Port of Gioia Tauro

Heavy lifting and relocation of exceptional loads: the Gioia Tauro port crane operation

Marraffa successfully carried out the relocation of a 1,800-tonne Ship-to-Shore (STS) port crane within the Port of Gioia Tauro, one of the most important container hubs in the Mediterranean. This represents a benchmark case in industrial lifting and heavy machinery relocation, executed using Goldhofer SPMTs and tailor-made engineering solutions, without ever interrupting terminal operations.

The Port of Gioia Tauro handled 4.5 million containers in 2025, setting a new record and confirming its position among Europe’s leading container terminals. Within this high-intensity operational environment, Marraffa performed the lifting and relocation of an STS port crane weighing 1,800 tonne, standing 80 meters high and 26 meters wide—one of the largest port handling structures in the world.

This operation falls within Marraffa’s industrial handling services, covering the lifting, transport, and repositioning of industrial machinery and structures of any size and weight, in complex environments with strict operational constraints.

Goldhofer SPMT vehicles: the core technology behind industrial transport

For this relocation, Marraffa deployed Goldhofer SPMT (Self-Propelled Modular Transporter) units configured with 80 interconnected axle lines. SPMTs are modular, hydrostatically driven transport systems capable of:

• Transporting exceptional heavy loads;
• Moving longitudinally and laterally with high steering precision;
• Operating on uneven surfaces while maintaining load stability;
• Lifting and positioning structures through hydraulic suspension stroke.

In the case of the Gioia Tauro container crane, the SPMTs were integrated with a system of transverse beams, longitudinal beams, and custom load-distribution structures, forming a tailor-made transport platform for this large-scale industrial machinery relocation.

Industrial lifting with a 40-meter center of gravity

The complexity of this operation was driven by three main critical factors:

1. Stability analysis for industrial lifting

With a center of gravity located approximately 40 meters above ground level, the crane presented significant stability risks during transport. Marraffa carried out detailed structural and load distribution analyses to ensure full safety throughout every phase of the operation.

2. Design of custom lifting brackets

The crane was not equipped with standard lifting points for heavy lifting operations. For this reason, four custom-engineered lifting brackets were designed and manufactured, fully compatible with Marraffa’s beam system. These enabled hydraulic force transfer through the SPMT axle system for controlled lifting.

3. Overcoming quay geometric constraints

A section of the quay inaccessible by rail prevented conventional crane transfer. By replacing rail movement with SPMT modular transport systems, Marraffa successfully bypassed this structural limitation, repositioning the crane in its new operational terminal area.

4. Continuity of port operations

The entire operation was planned to avoid any disruption to container traffic schedules. All preparatory and execution phases were coordinated within available time windows, ensuring full operational continuity of the terminal.

Marraffa and container crane lifting in Italian ports

This operation is part of a consolidated track record of STS container crane relocations and high-profile port handling projects. Recent Marraffa operations include:

• 2024, Port of Gioia Tauro: relocation of two STS port cranes;
• 2025, Port of Trieste: relocation of four STS port cranes.

These achievements confirm Marraffa as a leader in industrial heavy lifting and port machinery relocation across major Italian and Mediterranean ports, with unique expertise in managing high-risk, complex industrial transport operations.

FAQ: Industrial Handling and Machinery Lifting

What is industrial machinery handling?

Industrial machinery handling includes all activities related to the lifting, transport, and repositioning of heavy industrial systems and structures such as reactors, boilers, compressors, steel structures, cranes, turbines, and components of power plants or wind farms. It requires specialized equipment such as SPMT self-propelled modular transporters and heavy-lift cranes, as well as advanced engineering expertise.

Which types of industrial machinery can Marraffa handle?

Marraffa’s industrial handling services cover power plant components, single-module boilers, reactors and tanks, compressors, steel structures, printing and textile machinery, wind energy components, port cranes, and other oversized industrial structures.

How is safety ensured during industrial lifting operations?

Every industrial lifting operation begins with a detailed preliminary engineering study, including structural analysis, load distribution calculations, design of custom lifting equipment if required, operational planning, and coordination with site constraints.

Useful contacts for industrial machinery relocation

Are you planning the transport or lifting of industrial machinery? The Marraffa technical team analyzes your project specifications and develops the safest and most efficient industrial handling solution, even in highly complex operational environments.