The first of two new £25 million ship-to-shore cranes arrived aboard a vessel at its new home today, in a major boost for productivity at the Port of Greenock.

The 932 tonne structure was transported to the west-facing freight port following a 1 day journey from Cork in Ireland, where it was built.

Work will shortly begin to install the vital infrastructure at the port, and it will be fully operational later this year following stringent testing.

The cranes will help accommodate increased demand from cargo owners, and support growth in transatlantic trade, as well as future proof the port. The capabilities of the new cranes have already been key in securing new routes, including a new weekly deep sea container service connecting Scotland to the Mediterranean market of Turkey.

Port operator Peel Ports Clydeport spent £25 million on the two new 72m tall ship-to-shore cranes, which are to be named ‘U-Crane Bolt’ after the Jamaican Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt and ‘Craner Swift’ in tribute to Taylor Swift following a naming competition with local school kids.

Jim McSporran, port director at Peel Ports Clydeport, said: “It’s a really special moment to welcome the first of our two new cranes to the Port of Greenock.

These two structures will be transformational for the port, significantly expanding our freight capabilities here, and we’re all really excited for having them fully operational later this year.”

He added: “Once installed they will also boost efficiency and bring more opportunities for global connections and worldwide trade into Greenock, further strengthening our position as a major port for importers and exporters.”

The second of the huge structures is due to arrive in the coming weeks/months.

The £25 million cranes are the largest single investment made at the container terminal and comes less than a year after a new £20 million cruise ship visitor centre opened at the neighbouring Greenock Ocean Terminal.

A naming competition for the cranes was launched by Peel Ports Clydeport in partnership with Inverclyde Council, with the winners announced earlier this year.

Avaleigh Lang, 10, of Lady Alice Primary in Greenock, chose Craner Swift as a nod to the US pop icon, while Frances McFadden, 10, of the town’s St Mary’s Primary School opted for U-Crane Bolt as a tribute to Usain Bolt.