E-Crane, Cooper Consolidated christen new barge-mounted stevedoring crane

On July 14, E-Crane International USA Inc., Galion, Ohio, and Cooper Consolidated, Darrow, La., christened the 75' stevedoring crane Creole King and the 200'x72'x12' crane barge CC2 at E-Crane’s Gulf Coast Service Center at the Port of Iberia in New Iberia, La. (E-Crane is short for equilibrium crane.)

The barge was built at Corn Island Shipyard, Grandview, Ind., in 2024 and carries a Cummins 1,500-kw main generator and a Cummins 150-kw deck generator in addition to the crane.

Creole King is an EC30382 PD-E series, 4000C model stevedoring crane. The crane is the largest of its kind in North America, according to E-Crane officials, capable of lifting 52 tons and equipped with 47-cu. yd. and 39-cu. yd. interchangeable clamshell grabs designed for continuous duty on inland and coastal waterways.

“We studied the market for bulk material handling equipment that offered a combination of performance, ease of maintenance and operation, and energy efficiency, and E-Crane checked all the boxes,” Scott Becnel, director of business development for Cooper Consolidated, said in his remarks.

There are many features of the new crane that put it in the state-of-the-art class of Mississippi River must-have equipment for stevedoring operations — 51.7-ton maximum duty cycle capacity, 63.9-ton maximum lift capacity, 125' outreach, 360° rotation, and 580-ton operating weight. Yet perhaps the most intriguing feature is its 630-kW electric powertrain and 1,500-kW generator on deck that runs the crane that reduces fuel usage compared to traditional cranes by 80%.

“It takes about the amount of diesel in a wineglass to move a ton of cargo,” said E-Crane USA’s CEO, Steve Osborne. “The result is a dramatically lower environmental footprint that benefits us all.”

“Today we’re not just christening a crane — we’re ushering in a new chapter of opportunity for our ports and people,” said Susan Bourgeois, Louisiana’s Economic Development Secretary, who emphasized the crane’s potential to enhance logistics capacity throughout South Louisiana.

The Port of Iberia invested more than $6 million to support the project through Louisiana’s Port Priority Program, refurbishing infrastructure and upgrading facilities.

“We started with 12 new jobs. We expect that to grow to 50 as more cranes are built, the port’s executive director, Craig Romero, said. “This is an example of smart investment yielding long-term dividends.”

Creole King is the sister crane to the Pelican, which joined Cooper Consolidated’s fleet in December 2024. Both cranes are designed to work ships up to Panamax size in a direct configuration or operate in tandem with the LMO — a barge-mounted grain handling system that enables exporters to weigh, grade, and sample commodities directly midstream.

“This isn’t just a machine — it’s a milestone,” said Osborne. “It shows what’s possible when engineering excellence, environmental responsibility, and regional collaboration come together.”