Seaboard Marine orders electric Liebherr LHM 550 cranes for PortMiami and Port of Houston

Seaboard Marine has invested in three electric-drive LHM 550 mobile harbour cranes from Liebherr to expand container and multipurpose cargo handling capacity at its private terminals at PortMiami and the Port of Houston.

The cranes, delivered by Liebherr-Rostock, will be deployed in high-rise configuration and are equipped with electric drives, tower extensions and customised supporting pads. The investment builds on a partnership between the two companies that dates back to 2001 and adds to eight Liebherr mobile harbour cranes already in service across Seaboard Marine’s terminals.

The LHM 550 cranes are designed for container and multipurpose operations in high-throughput environments. Each unit offers an outreach of up to 54 metres and a configured lifting capacity of 104 tonnes, enabling the handling of New Panamax-class vessels while maintaining fast vessel turnaround times.

Electric drive technology positions the cranes for future shore power and port electrification initiatives, while hydrostatic drive systems are intended to deliver smooth and efficient performance under variable load conditions.

Seaboard Marine operates a fleet of more than 20 vessels and over 60,000 containers, serving nearly 40 ports across the Americas. The company is the largest cargo carrier at PortMiami by volume.

At PortMiami, which handled more than 1.1 million TEUs in 2024, the new cranes are expected to strengthen berth productivity and support growth in refrigerated cargo and breakbulk shipments. The additional capacity is also aligned with Seaboard Marine’s LNG-powered fleet expansion and its focus on maintaining fast vessel turnaround during peak periods.

At the Port of Houston, where container volumes exceeded 4.1 million TEUs last year, the cranes will increase operational flexibility for container handling while supporting the company’s multipurpose service model. Seaboard Marine said the added capacity will help maintain competitive transit times amid rising demand.

The cranes include customer-specific adaptations such as tower extensions, customised pads and tailored paint schemes to meet operational and branding requirements. Liebherr will provide long-term service support through its regional network, with teams based in Miami and Houston under a full-service contract.

Andreas Ritschel, General Manager Sales Mobile Harbour Cranes at Liebherr-Rostock GmbH, said:

“This collaboration demonstrates our shared commitment to future-ready solutions and operational excellence.”

Liebherr will also provide operator training and digital support tools, including its LiDAT smartApp, to support performance monitoring and crane utilisation.

Seaboard Marine said the crane investment reflects a focus on scalable infrastructure and energy-efficient equipment as trade volumes through key U.S. gateways continue to rise. The company expects the new assets to support long-term operational resilience at both ports.