Built between 1913 and 1917, the Port of Casablanca is one of the largest ports in Morocco and North Africa. Marsa Maroc is the port’s largest operator. Owners of an extensive lifting fleet (high-capacity cranes, gantry cranes and container handlers), of which the safe maintenance at height is one the company’s key priorities, Marsa Maroc recently acquired the first telescopic Genie® SX™-180 boom lift in Morocco and the whole of North Africa.
“Gantries and heavy-capacity port cranes are some of our most strategic types of equipment that stand out by the complexity of their maintenance and their huge dimensions,” says Mrs. Loufti, Director, Equipment Department, Marsa Maroc, Port of Casablanca. She explains: “To perform certain tasks, such as inspections or verifications, particularly on the cranes’ booms, it’s imperative to have an adequate solution to reach to up to 50 m (180 ft) and above. In addition, because Marsa Maroc is QSE (Quality, Safety, Environment) certified, worksite safety has become one of our top priorities, which is why we decided to invest in a high-reach boom lift. There are few manufactures that make these machines, and Genie stands out as one of the reputed leaders in this area. After consultation, we chose a Genie SX-180 boom lift that is currently in operation in the Port of Casablanca.”
As part of its call for tender, a year ago Marsa Maroc turned to Vemat, Authorised Genie Distributor in Morocco. In addition to technical details, requirements in terms of performance and safety were also part of the specifications. In July 2018, a Genie SX-180 boom lift was ordered and delivered in November with the requested accessories.
Vemat’s Managing Director, Domenico Paduano, explains: “Local service was also one of customer’s requirements. Since it has been in operation, the Genie SX-180 boom lift has been working virtually non-stop and, in eight months, it has already clocked-up a tremendous number of hours. Marsa Maroc’s machines are in use all day long, so to adapt to their needs, we plan our service calls 10 days in advance to handle the maintenance within a morning, which allows them optimise the immobilisation of their equipment.”
He continues: “Over the past five years or so, we have seen a definite evolution in terms of awareness regarding safety and work at height in Morocco. As a result, we have experienced a notable rise in the number of power stations and other industrial facilities that are now turning to us for an alternative to scaffolding or ladders. In this respect, our Genie booms have an important role to play.”
