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New Report Examines Military Veterans in the Crane Industry
A recent study from the NCCCO Foundation, conducted in collaboration with SmallBox Consulting, offers insights into the experiences of military veterans working in— or considering careers in— the crane industry. The research aims to help companies understand how to attract and support veteran talent while highlighting the unique skills veterans bring to the field. The study focused on four key
Link-Belt Names Top Five Distributors for 2025 Performance
Link-Belt Cranes has announced its top five distributors for 2025, recognizing companies based on overall performance in marketing, sales and customer support.
The announcement was made by Pat Collins, director of sales for Link-Belt Cranes, on January 19, 2026, from the company’ s headquarters in Lexington, Kentucky.
According to Link-Belt, distributor performance rankings reflect each company’ s efforts in promoting the brand, delivering equipment and supporting customers throughout the year.
The top five distributors for 2025, listed in alphabetical order, are:
• Atlantic & Southern Equipment, LLC, based in Lake City, Georgia
• Doggett Crane Services, based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
• Holt Crane & Equipment, based in Houston, Texas
• Mardian Equipment Co., Inc., based in Phoenix, Arizona
• CRW Corp., Wood’ s CRW Corp., based in Williston, Vermont
Link-Belt Cranes evaluates distributor performance annually as part of its ongoing dealer network program.
questions: How do veterans find careers in the crane industry? What makes veterans well-suited for crane careers? What makes the crane industry appealing to veterans? What challenges do veterans face when entering the civilian workforce?
The report is available for free download on the NCCCO Foundation website.
In addition, the NCCCO Foundation hosted a webinar summarizing the report’ s findings. The panel included veteran speakers, including a Marine Corps veteran with 14 years of experience as a crane operator, who offered guidance for veterans entering the crane industry and advice for employers seeking skilled veteran talent.
Seaboard Marine Adds Electric Liebherr LHM 550 Cranes at U. S. Ports
Seaboard Marine Ltd. has invested in three Liebherr LHM 550 mobile harbour cranes equipped with electric drive systems for operations at PortMiami and the Port of Houston. The cranes will be used across Seaboard Marine’ s private terminals to support container and multipurpose cargo handling.
The new cranes are delivered in a high-rise configuration and include tower extensions and customized supporting pads. According to Liebherr, the electric drive systems position the cranes for future shore power initiatives, while hydrostatic drive technology supports smooth operation under varying load conditions.
Each LHM 550 provides an outreach of up to 54 meters( 177.17 feet) and a configured lifting capacity of 104 metric tons( 114.64 U. S. tons), enabling the handling of New-Panamax vessels. The cranes are intended to support high-volume port environments while maintaining turnaround efficiency.
At PortMiami, where more than 1.1 million 20-foot equivalent units( TEUs) were processed in 2024, the additional cranes are expected to strengthen berth productivity and assist with increased refrigerated cargo and breakbulk shipments. Seaboard Marine is currently the largest carrier by cargo volume at the port.
At the Port of Houston, which handled more than 4.1 million TEUs last year, the cranes will increase container handling flexibility while supporting Seaboard Marine’ s multipurpose service operations.
The latest delivery expands a partnership between Liebherr and Seaboard Marine that began in 2001, adding to eight Liebherr cranes already in service across Seaboard Marine terminals.
Liebherr USA, Co. will support the cranes through a regional service network that includes on-site teams in Miami and Houston.
Konecranes Secures $ 49.7M Portal Jib Crane Order for U. S. Navy
Konecranes has received a $ 49.7 million order from the U. S. Navy for a heavy-lift portal jib crane as part of a multi-year agreement first announced in December 2019.
The order, booked in January 2026, marks the sixth portal jib crane awarded to Konecranes under the agreement. The new crane will be delivered to Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine. The U. S. Navy also retains the option to purchase an additional portal jib crane under the original contract.
The 175-ton portal crane will be manufactured in Wisconsin before installation at the Maine shipyard. According to the company, the crane is similar to previous units delivered under the agreement and includes a customized design that allows it to operate on both straight and curved tracks.
The crane’ s modular jib configuration allows for future modifications, including adjustments to run on different track gauge sizes if relocated to another shipyard. The design can also be used at other naval shipyards with similar infrastructure.
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March 2026 • www. cranehotline. com