Twenty-Ton Hydraulic Grab Enters Service
The General Authority for Ports and Customs has put a new 20-ton hydraulic grab into service at the Port of Latakia, Syria’s main Mediterranean port. The unit can move loads up to 20 tons and adjusts to cargo density, marking a three- to ten-fold capacity increase over the grabs the port previously relied on, which were rated at two, three or six tons.
Three Heavy Cranes Back After Years Off-Line
Alongside the new equipment, the authority has returned three heavy cranes to active service. Each crane handles loads above 100 tons and bears the Liebherr and Gottwald nameplates. The machines had sat idle for years before maintenance and technical refurbishment brought them back to the quayside.
Four More Machines in Two Weeks
Taher Al-Sabsabi, public relations director at the Port of Latakia, called the new grab a qualitative leap over the older equipment, which had been limited to lifts of two, three or six tons. He said the port had also taken delivery of four additional machines over the past two weeks, framing the additions as part of a wider plan to shorten ship turnaround times, improve cargo handling, and lift operational readiness.
Plan Targets Imports, Exports, and Transit
The authority places the upgrades inside a broader government effort to modernize the operating infrastructure of Syria’s seaports and ease the movement of imports, exports, and transit cargo. The push is presented as essential to keeping Latakia competitive as commercial traffic through its berths has climbed since the start of the year.
Rising Shipping Activity at the Quayside
Latakia has seen a marked rise in shipping activity in recent months, with the authority leaning on the expanded fleet of cranes and grabs to absorb the heavier flow. Operators say the new machinery is intended to cut waiting times for vessels and accelerate the transfer of goods between ships and trucks on the docks.