Marsa Maroc, the largest operator in the Port of Casablanca, Morocco, has acquired a Genie SX-180 boomlift, the first in Morocco and all of North Africa. Marsa Maroc is owner of an extensive lifting fleet including high-capacity cranes, gantry cranes and container handlers.
“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,” said Mrs. Loufti, director of the equipment department for Marsa Maroc. "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 meters (180 feet) 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 boomlift. 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 search, 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 boomlift was ordered and delivered in November with the requested accessories.
"Local service was also one of customer’s requirements,” said Domenico Paduano, Vemat’s managing director. “Since it has been in operation, the Genie SX-180 boomlift 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 to optimise the immobilisation of their equipment.
"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."
Marsa Maroc operates in 10 Moroccan ports. Its fleet includes 11 container handlers, five cranes for bulk materials, 87 cranes, 253 telehandlers, 88 loaders and more. Vemat is authorized distributor of Genie mobile elevating work platforms in Morocco.