Providence, R.I. -- The state has ordered two new cranes for the Port of Providence that are part of a long-awaited plan to expand cargo shipping and make the port more competitive.
The mobile harbor cranes, which can operate on land and on barges, are under construction in Austria by the Liebherr Group. No American company makes such cranes, according to the port officials. The cranes are expected to be completed in May.
Gov. Chafee announced that the cranes had been ordered at a news conference at ProvPort Monday morning. He was accompanied by Providence Mayor Angel Taveras, Rhode Island's congressional delegation and representatives of ProvPort.
The cranes are being purchased with a $10.5 million federal transportation infrastructure grant that was awarded two years ago.