Casablanca Port is preparing to receive new equipment designed to boost its bulk cargo handling capacity. Marsa Maroc has chosen a Liebherr LPS 550 for its bulk operations. Equipped with electric drive and mounted on rails, this slewing gantry crane will be the first Liebherr LPS series unit to enter service in Africa.
The crane is scheduled to join Marsa Maroc’s terminal in Casablanca after being shipped from the Liebherr-Rostock plant in Germany. Its deployment is part of the Marsa 2030 development program, which notably aims to strengthen handling capacity across the Moroccan port network.
A Liebherr crane dedicated to bulk handling
The Liebherr LPS 550 in Casablanca has been configured to meet the specific requirements of bulk cargo handling. Its rail-mounted design allows it to move along the quay and operate in several work areas.
The crane is fitted with a 48‑metre boom, a key feature that provides the outreach needed to work efficiently on different types of vessels. Liebherr also highlights the crane’s ability to combine outreach, precision and power for intensive bulk handling cycles.
Its gantry design is also an advantage for quay organisation. Running on rails, the crane keeps ground work areas largely clear and makes it easier for people, vehicles and other equipment to move around it. This is particularly important in a terminal exposed to heavy flows of cargo and traffic.
Electric drive for Casablanca Port
The Liebherr LPS 550 selected by Marsa Maroc is powered by an electric drive system. This configuration is one of the technical features the manufacturer promotes for intensive port operations.
According to Liebherr, this technology enables precise movements and consistent performance throughout handling cycles. The crane has been configured according to the operational requirements of Casablanca Port.
However, this technical feature should not be confused with an actual environmental performance assessment on site: in its announcement, the manufacturer does not provide figures that would allow a precise evaluation of energy savings or emission reductions achieved in Casablanca.
Casablanca, a strategic terminal for Marsa Maroc
The choice of Casablanca is also explained by the weight of the port in Marsa Maroc’s activities. The port covers more than 450 hectares, has over 8 kilometres of quays and can accommodate up to 40 vessels at the same time.
At its Casablanca facilities, Marsa Maroc handled in 2025 more than 19 million tonnes of cargo and nearly 1.1 million TEUs. The terminal handles containers, cereals, animal feed, ores, steel products and vehicles.
The arrival of the LPS 550 is therefore expected to complement the equipment already operated by Marsa Maroc and to strengthen its capacity in the specific bulk cargo segment.
Closer cooperation between Marsa Maroc and Liebherr
This purchase is part of an already established relationship between the two companies. Marsa Maroc already operates several Liebherr mobile harbour cranes at different sites.
In 2024, three LHM 550 mobile harbour cranes were delivered to the Moroccan operator. The new project now adds a different type of equipment to this fleet with the LPS 550.
Liebherr also indicates that additional cranes are due to join the terminals of Nador and Tangier, as part of the ongoing development of its port equipment footprint in Morocco.
A first Liebherr LPS in Africa
The most distinctive aspect of the project is its pioneering status at the continental level. Once installed and commissioned, the Liebherr LPS 550 in Casablanca will become the first slewing gantry crane from the German manufacturer’s LPS range to be operated in Africa.
For Marsa Maroc, this new crane strengthens its specialised cargo handling equipment. For Liebherr, its arrival in Casablanca marks the entry of this crane range into a new regional market.
The project also illustrates the ongoing modernisation of Moroccan port equipment, as Marsa Maroc continues to expand its capacity in several ports across the Kingdom.
External sources:
- Liebherr – Marsa Maroc boosts bulk operations in Casablanca
- Médias24 – First Liebherr LPS crane in Africa installed in Casablanca
Don’t miss out on the latest news from the diaspora!
Sign up for our next newsletter to receive our practical guides, advice (on procedures and investment) and the latest news for French nationals living abroad, delivered straight to your inbox.
