TRIESTE – A symbolic arrival is scheduled tomorrow at Interporto Rivers in Porto Marghera: a Liebherr LHM 420, a state-of-the-art mobile harbor crane.
After a long journey from the German port of Rostock, the equipment promises to transform quay operations at the terminal. The investment, worth over €5 million, is a key milestone in the development path launched by Interporto Rivers Venezia, controlled by Orlean Invest Holding, the group of entrepreneur Gabriele Volpi.
The assembly of the new equipment is scheduled for Tuesday and will be marked by an official event attended by Matteo Gasparato, Extraordinary Commissioner of the North Adriatic Sea Port Authority.
The LHM 420 stands out not only for its size and lifting capacity but above all for its integrated technologies. Liebherr has equipped it with EVO 6, a next-generation control system, advanced sensors and the hybrid Pactronic device, which intelligently uses stored energy to drastically reduce consumption and emissions. The crane is fitted with dual engines, electric and combustion, to ensure operational continuity and flexibility depending on the terminal’s needs.
From a commercial perspective, the new crane will strengthen two key segments. On one hand, bulk cargo, already well established at the terminal and including commodities such as clinker, cement, steel products, sand, ash and agri-food goods. On the other, project cargo, a high value-added segment requiring equipment and infrastructure capable of handling out-of-gauge loads and complex industrial components. For Interporto Rivers Venezia, this is a rapidly growing area on which it intends to build a significant part of its future strategy.
The arrival of the LHM 420 marks the first step in a broader investment program, which for 2025–2026 foresees around €15 million in resources. The plan, outlined by the company, includes the reinforcement of a section of the concessioned quay, an essential intervention to increase capacity and operational safety. It also provides for the digitalization and informatization of cargo and vehicle flows, with the aim of making information and logistics operations faster and more efficient.
Another key element will be the redevelopment of the former Eckart area, dedicated to supporting project cargo. New facilities and automation processes will be introduced in this space to handle large and high-value loads, integrating quay operations with dedicated backport areas.
On the sustainability front, Interporto Rivers Venezia is targeting the completion of the 1-megawatt photovoltaic park already under development. The plant will not only power the new Liebherr crane but also significantly reduce the terminal’s overall emissions, in line with the energy transition goals of the port sector.
According to company data, the Marghera terminal closed 2025 with growth of more than 30% compared to the previous year in both ships handled and volumes moved.
