According to Liebherr, demand for their electric-drive machines rose by a staggering 400% between 2019 and 2025.
confidence,” it says. PD Ports says their day- to-day performance and reliability guided its investment in a third, giving the bulk operation greater flexibility and capacity during peaks. “That experience reflects a wider shift
towards evaluating electric drive against operational requirements, rather than treating it primarily as an environmental commitment,” adds Liebherr. Across its mobile harbour crane business, demand for electric-drive machines rose by 400% between 2019 and 2025. However, the company is mindful that the individual case still depends on the terminal. Power availability, connection points, cable management, operating hours and electricity costs all need assessment. Liebherr addresses these variables with a flexible drive portfolio, allowing the crane and its power supply concept to be configured around the infrastructure and operating profile of the individual terminal, rather than requiring the terminal to adapt to a single technical solution. Ports also have more than one route
to electrification. Liebherr offers electric- hydrostatic and all-electric solutions, as well as electric-drive retrofits for suitable existing cranes. “That choice matters to operators managing mixed cargo, changing berth assignments or infrastructure that is being upgraded in stages,” it says. “PD Ports’ repeat order shows what happens when electric equipment proves itself through vessel calls
and maintenance cycles: the discussion moves from whether it can perform to how best to deploy it across the operation.” Addressing the drive to reduce downtime, Liebherr recently launched its Parts Assistant app. “For a terminal, the value of a parts tool is measured in time saved between identifying a fault or planned service requirement and obtaining the correct component,” it says. “A crane awaiting a relatively small part can still disrupt a vessel plan.” Parts Assistant gives maintenance teams
several ways to identify a component at the machine: a photograph, QR code, part number or text search in dozens of languages. Users can check results against Liebherr’s parts catalogue before ordering, reducing the risk of selecting the wrong item.
For mobile harbour crane owners, its second function is particularly useful. The app displays upcoming scheduled maintenance based on machine operating hours, lists the associated wear parts and service materials and lets teams adjust quantities before ordering. “That makes it easier to prepare a service intervention around a berth window instead of discovering a missing item once work has begun,” it says. If identification remains uncertain, users
can request a check from their Liebherr service partner. Parts search covers several maritime crane categories, while the app’s maintenance- planning function currently applies to mobile harbour cranes.
“The practical opportunity is to make it part of
routine maintenance planning and technician training,” it adds.
Automation challenge Of course, the very versatility that makes mobile harbour cranes so attractive also makes them more challenging to automate. Konecranes notes that they travel freely on a rubber-tyred chassis, and have three main lifting motions – hoisting, luffing and slewing, in combination with a large working envelope.
However, the industry is already adding the smart features that are the ‘stepping stones’ to automation. Konecranes offers load anti-sway and semi-automatic point-to-point control which supports the handling and performance of an MHC. “These features are the foundation for a remote or even an automated solution,” it adds. For Liebherr, the practical route towards
MHC automation is to assist defined tasks while keeping the operator in control. It recognises that a crane that moves between bulk, containers and project cargo encounters different attachments, vessel layouts, traffic and weather conditions. “Safety comes first: each assistance function must work within a clearly understood operating and safety concept,” it says. Liebherr offers various stepping stones, depending on the crane configuration and application. SmartGrip adapts the grabbing process to changing bulk-material characteristics to support consistent filling. Anti-sway helps
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