Marsa Maroc picks Africa’s first Liebherr LPS 550 for Casablanca

Bulk handling on rails at Morocco’s largest port

The LPS 550 combines a 48-metre boom with high-capacity bulk handling performance, giving Marsa Maroc the reach and precision needed for vessel operations across a broad range of ship classes. Its rail-mounted portal design keeps quay space free beneath the machine while delivering substantial lifting capability, and the electric drivetrain is set up for accurate movements and consistent performance through intensive duty cycles.

The crane will work at the Port of Casablanca, Morocco’s largest port and one of North Africa’s busiest maritime gateways. Covering more than 450 hectares with over eight kilometres of quays and berths for up to 40 vessels at a time, the port handles containers, steel products, cereals, animal feed, minerals and vehicles. Marsa Maroc moved more than 19 million tonnes of cargo and nearly 1.1 million TEU through its Casablanca operations in 2025.

Building on the LHM 550 fleet

The order extends a relationship that already saw three Liebherr LHM 550 mobile harbour cranes delivered to Marsa Maroc in 2024. The operator, created during Morocco’s port-sector reform in 2006, manages 35 terminals across 21 ports and handles roughly 67 million tonnes of cargo a year, and is investing under its Marsa 2030 development programme. Further Liebherr cranes are scheduled for its terminals in Nador and Tangier.

“Marsa Maroc already operates Liebherr cranes at several locations, and the addition of an LPS 550 further broadens that relationship. For us, this project is particularly noteworthy because it introduces a new Liebherr crane type into an established fleet, demonstrating how different products from our maritime portfolio can be matched to specific terminal requirements.”

— Andreas Ritschel, General Manager Sales Mobile Harbour Cranes, Liebherr-Rostock GmbH

Local support through Liebherr Marocco

A Marsa Maroc representative said the cooperation with Liebherr had “consistently demonstrated the value of reliable equipment, responsive support and a shared understanding of our operational requirements”, calling the first LPS crane in Africa an important step in the company’s development.

Service and technical support will come through Liebherr’s local organisation, Liebherr Marocco, which backs up the manufacturer’s global maritime network with on-the-ground expertise for the working life of the machine.