A new era begins in Hungarian container logistics
The MAHART Container Center Welcomes Its New Gantry Crane
A significant technological milestone in the history of Hungarian intermodal freight transport has been achieved at the Csepel Freeport: a high-capacity, trimodal container-handling gantry crane has arrived, ushering in a new level of efficiency in rail, road, and waterborne logistics operations.
The Hungarian logistics sector has reached a pivotal point in its development. Following a three-year preparation and procurement process, MAHART Container Center Ltd. (MCC) has expanded its capacity with a new SANY-brand container-handling gantry crane at the Csepel Freeport site. With a lifting capacity of 41 tonnes, the trimodal equipment—capable of handling containers across rail, road, and waterway modes—not only replaces the outdated GANZ crane, but also significantly increases the terminal’s handling capacity. This investment contributes meaningfully to the renewal and capacity expansion of Hungarian intermodal freight transport.
The equipment arrived by sea from China to Port of Constanța, Romania. From there, organized by Plimsoll Zrt., it was transported more than 1,400 river kilometers to Budapest via the Danube, using five barges. The shipment consisted of 88 separate parts, with a total weight reaching 404 tons. The logistics coordination represented one of the most complex inland waterway freight operations in recent years. The cargo entered the territory of the European Union at Mohács, where customs clearance took place in record time and smoothly, thanks to the close cooperation between VÁM-Zoll Ltd. and the customs authority.
The crane is nearly 30 meters high, an spans 57 meters wide, with an 18-meter track gauge and an effective operational span of 48 meters. Its total weight of 404 tonnes required a transport volume of 6,000 cubic meters.
“This crane marks the beginning of a new chapter in Hungarian intermodal container logistics. With the MCC’s increased capacity, we will be able to serve the intermodal demands of road, rail, and waterway transport even more efficiently in the future,” stated Zoltán Fábián, Managing Director of MAHART Container Center.
An example of successful logistics cooperation
The entire project was managed by Verbis Ltd., from the manufacturer’s order through transportation and logistics coordination to commissioning. All participants in the investment are members of the Association of Hungarian Logistics Service Centres (MLSZKSZ), thus the project is also an example of successful domestic logistics cooperation.
The Csepel intermodal container terminal (MCC) currently handles approximately 250,000 TEUs annually. With the expansion of its capacity, MAHART Container Center will be able to respond more effectively to the logistics demands of road, rail, and inland waterway transport, thereby promoting sustainable and environmentally friendly logistics solutions.
The official commissioning of the new crane is expected in August 2025.