Liebherr has delivered its 50th LS 250 ship crane to long-time partner Briese Schiffahrt, marking a major milestone in a collaboration that has continued to grow since 2014. The crane will be installed on the vessel BBC Shanghai, which is due to leave a shipyard in Asia at the end of November.
The delivery highlights the two companies’ shared focus on technical innovation, service support and improving efficiency in global heavy-lift operations.
Bernd Böning, Director Newbuilding at Briese Schiffahrt, said the relationship has been built on trust and reliable performance.
“Our experience with Liebherr has been very positive. We are highly satisfied with the performance of the LS 250 ship cranes, offering excellent deck coverage and a balanced combination of outreach and lifting capacities. Working with Liebherr has always been straightforward and reliable. We see Liebherr as a long-term partner and look forward to continuing this cooperation in the years ahead,” said Böning.
Ongoing improvements to crane design
Since the partnership began, Liebherr has continued to refine the LS 250 design to meet new market needs and advances in technology. Earlier cranes featured larger booms and uniform columns, while the latest models use a slim, tapered column and a more streamlined boom.
These updates provide several advantages. The cranes meet the requirements for vessels operating in the St Lawrence Seaway and Great Lakes. The more compact structure frees up deck space, while a higher boom pivot point increases room for cargo storage below. A new reeving system runs the luffing rope through the centre of the boom, improving load curves throughout the full outreach range. The slim boom head also takes up less space next to the deckhouse, improving vessel layout.
Liebherr has supported Briese Schiffahrt’s newer designs as well. For the LakerMax series, which positions the bridge at the bow to increase deck space, Liebherr extended the crane boom by three metres to 36 metres while retaining the 250-tonne maximum lifting capacity at 18 metres. Hydraulic systems have also been redesigned to use only half the previous amount of oil, and flexible hoses have been replaced with long-lasting piping to reduce maintenance needs.
Focus on innovation and efficiency
Robert Pitschmann, Global Application Manager for Heavy Lift Offshore and Ship Cranes at Liebherr in Rostock, said the 50-crane milestone represents more than production numbers.
“The delivery of the 50th LS 250 ship crane is more than a number. It reflects the strength of our collaboration with Briese Schiffahrt,” said Pitschmann. “Together, we’ve pushed boundaries in design and performance, building cranes that meet today’s operational demands and anticipate tomorrow’s challenges. Our shared focus on efficiency, reliability, and innovation ensures that every delivery adds value to the fleet and to the industry.”
The LS 250 also includes the Litronic control system, which links the operator and the crane. The system provides real-time data and automatically manages load moments, allowing the crane to run at the ideal speed for each lift. The result is a smoother, safer and more efficient lifting cycle.
As heavy-lift shipping continues to evolve, Liebherr says it will keep prioritising efficiency, sustainability and digitalisation. The company’s global sales and service network ensures support wherever its cranes operate, and its ongoing development work is aimed at meeting the industry’s future needs.