PORT FREEPORT WELCOMES TWO NEW SUPER POST-PANAMAX CRANES IN CENTENNIAL YEAR

FREEPORT, TX (October 06, 2025) – Port Freeport marked a historic milestone on Monday, September 22, 2025, with the delivery of two state-of-the-art Super Post-Panamax Ship-to-Shore Gantry Cranes. Their arrival, coinciding with the Port’s 100th anniversary, underscores Port Freeport’s enduring commitment to growth, innovation, and service to the region.

Transported fully erected aboard a heavy-lift vessel, the cranes were carefully offloaded and secured to the docks. Following installation and testing this fall, the new equipment will be placed in service, dramatically expanding the Port’s capacity to service some of the world’s largest container vessels efficiently.

“These cranes are a major investment in the future of Port Freeport and our community,” said Rob Giesecke, Chairman of the Port Freeport Commission. “They will act as a catalyst for future growth, helping us attract new business, create more jobs, and increase operating revenues to keep Port Freeport at zero-tax.”

Towering more than 300 feet high and weighing over 1,600 tons each, the cranes feature the ability to reach across 22 containers wide with a lift above the dock of 178.8 feet. Outfitted with advanced technology, they are designed to handle cargo with greater safety and efficiency, representing one of the most significant equipment upgrades in Port Freeport’s history.

“The addition of the new Super Post-Panamax cranes at the expanded container terminal berths, combined with the substantial completion of the Freeport Harbor Channel Improvement Project by year’s end, is a defining moment for the Port and a great way to start the Port’s next century,” said Phyllis Saathoff, Executive Director/CEO of Port Freeport. “As we commemorate our Centennial, this achievement underscores our unwavering commitment to developing world-class infrastructure that will benefit our region for many years to come.”

The cranes are expected to be fully operational later this fall. Their delivery during Port Freeport’s Centennial year reflects both the strength of its legacy and the promise of continued opportunity. A commemorative video will be released and made available on the Port’s website, allowing the community to share in their remarkable journey from delivery to installation.

Port Freeport is a leading port in the export of crude oil and natural gas liquids and ranks nationally as 6th in chemicals, 14th in total foreign waterborne tonnage, and 26th in containers.  A 2022 Economic Impact Study by Texas A&M Transportation Institute revealed that, nationally, the Freeport Harbor Channel generates 266,300 jobs and has a total economic output of $157.3 billion.  Port Freeport serves Alliera, Atlantic Container Lines, AMPORTS, BASF, Chiquita Fresh N.A., Dole Fresh Fruit, The Dow Chemical Company, Enterprise Products Partners, ExxonMobil, Freeport LNG, Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc., Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Glovis, Grimaldi Lines, Hoegh Autoliners, Kirby Marine, Linde, MEGlobal, NYK RORO, Phillips 66, Riviana Foods, Inc., Sallaum Lines, Tenaris, U.S Department of Energy, Volkswagen Group of America, and Vulcan Materials Company.

Port Freeport is committed to keeping the local community informed of our operations and results. If you have questions or comments about this article, please email or call Amanda Veliz, Public Affairs Manager.

Contact: Amanda Veliz, Public Affairs Manager

Phone: (979) 233-2667 ext. 4306

Email: veliz@portfreeport.com