EIGHT cranes, which will be the largest in the world in permanent position, have been ordered for the London Gateway port in Corringham.

And its boss says their arrival confirms development plans for the superport are on target, despite the gloomy economic conditions.

The STS, ship to shore, category twin-hoist cranes will have a reach of 70 metres, and tower 46.5 metres above the Thames Estuary.

They will be in place by the time the new port opens for business in the fourth quarter of 2013.

The price paid for the cranes remains confidential, but orders for similar units by other ports suggest a cost of around £1.2million per crane.

The cranes are being manufactured by the Chinese company ZPMC (Zhenhua Port Machinery Company), based near Shanghai, which is able to undercut prices British and European firms can offer by around 20 per cent.

Founded in 1992, ZPMC is the largest manufacturer of both cranes and metal bridges in the world.

Among other projects, ZPMC is fabricating the new Bay Bridge in California – connecting the cities of San Francisco and Oakland.

London Gateway chief executive Simon Moore says the cranes were “just one element” in a construction programme that makes London Gateway one of the largest inward investment sites in Europe.

Over $1billion will be spent on the site over the next three years by owners DP World.

Mr Moore also confirms engineering work on the port is on target. “Dredging is about 50 per cent complete on the new deep water channel in the centre of the Thames. About 14 million tons of spoil from the dredge have been used in the reclamation scheme to extend the port area into the river.

“The total on completion will be 30 million tons.

“A new piece of England is being created.”

Development on the port remains unaffected by economic crises in the UK and worldwide, Mr Moore confirms.

“The logic behind the port development remains even more robust, because of the economic savings it will bring,” he says.