January 1977 - Maritime Reporter and Engineering News

Port Of Houston Terminal Installs Three LeTourneau 50-Ton Straddle Hoist Cranes

Marathon Manufacturing Company's Longview Division has delivered three LeTourneau 50-ton-capacity, rubber-tired Straddle Hoist cranes ordered by the Port of Houston (Texas) for its Barbours LASH/Container Terminal. All three cranes represent a total investment in excess of one and one-quarter million dollars.

When completed this month, the new Barbours Terminal will offer the newest and finest intermodal facilities of any port on the Gulf of Mexico. Located just off the 40-foot-deep Houston Ship Channel, the $53- million Barbours Terminal development is just two and a half hours from the Gulf, as opposed to the port's current turning basin area, which is six hours away. With the closer proximity to the Gulf and the impressive array of container-handling equipment and LASH facilities, it is anticipated that ships will have to spend no more than one day in the new port.

The three diesel-powered LeTourneau container yard cranes (model SHU-100) were ordered for the quick stacking of containers and for their ability to work in closely confined areas. The SHU-lOOs are equipped with a new LeTourneau "Anti-Sway" device that quickly stops pendulation of containers being handled. The Marathon SHU-lOOs have the ability to stack containers three-high and still have room to pass another container over the top. The machines' portal width permits stacking of six containers side by side, with room for a truck aisle as well.

The LeTourneau SHU-lOOs will be used to load or unload 20-, 30-, and 40-foot standard ISO containers, and 35-foot Sea-Land containers on or off chassis.

Marathon LeTourneau, Longview Division, manufactures heavy-duty off-road machines for the construction, mining, materials handling, shipping and forest industries. Le- Tourneau machinery is built around the concept of the electric wheel drive; diesel motors power a-c and d-c generators which furnish power to electric motors placed at areas of movement for maximum efficiency.

Marathon LeTourneau, Longview Division, is a subsidiary of Marathon Manufacturing Company of Houston. The parent firm is a multi-product firm serving industries in marine construction and transportation, heavy equipment and steel products, as well as a group of diversified companies producing chemicals, batteries, consumer goods, and providing paving and utility construction services.

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