APM Terminals Valencia has completed the controlled lowering and removal of its oldest ship-to-shore (STS) quay crane, QC907, as part of the terminal’s ongoing modernisation programme.
The operation, carried out on 2nd June, marks the retirement of one of the terminal’s longest-serving cranes and supports efforts to improve operational efficiency and prepare the facility for future growth.
The removal of QC907 follows the dismantling of crane QC904 in 2024. Both cranes have been replaced by two new Liebherr ship-to-shore cranes, which entered service in early 2025. The upgraded equipment is designed to increase handling capacity and enable the terminal to accommodate larger container vessels, improving service reliability and vessel turnaround times.
QC907 had been in operation for more than 20 years. The crane had a lifting capacity of 40 tonnes and an outreach spanning 13 container rows. It was also known among terminal operators by the nickname “La Neng” because of the distinctive shape of its boom.
According to APM Terminals Valencia, the removal was planned over several weeks, with engineering teams using simulation models to ensure the operation was carried out safely and accurately. The process involved preparing and securing the crane, constructing a sand bed to absorb the impact of the lowering, making controlled structural cuts and then dismantling the crane following its descent.
Specialised equipment, including elevated work platforms, support cranes and pulling machinery, was used throughout the operation to minimise risk to personnel and surrounding infrastructure.
The terminal said most of the materials recovered from QC907 will be recycled as ferrous scrap, supporting its resource efficiency and sustainability objectives.
The removal of the crane forms part of APM Terminals Valencia’s wider investment programme to modernise its equipment and infrastructure in response to evolving requirements in the container shipping sector.
For more information visit www.apmterminals.com
