The innovative new crane is comparable in size to the existing ship-to-shore gantry cranes but inherently more robust as they are based on a portal, rather than a cantilever structure. Furthermore, the shorter moving distances will enable lower speeds of operation, thus reducing stresses and providing longer life for the components. This can further be enhanced by synchronising the lifting cycles of the two trollies on the same crane beams.

The COFASTRANS system is well suited to automation. It is expected that all currently adopted automated activities can be accommodated within the system.