Aucklanders woke up to an unusual but spectacular sight this morning as three giant cranes sailed into Auckland's Waitemata Harbour.
Their arrival was three years in the planning and they're designed to increase the port's capacity to handle bigger ships with larger freight.
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At more than two thousand tonnes each onlookers say the cranes appear to defy gravity
"It's a very exciting day for ports of Auckland," Ports of Auckland CEO, Tony Gibson, told Newshub.
"Three new quay cranes arriving, worth $60 million dollars each which will increase the capacity."
These beasts can lift containers twice the weight of the current Ports of Auckland cranes - and all on solar power.
They each have enough solar panels to power the average Kiwi home and will be operated remotely.
"This methodology is the first in the world. We like to think ourselves as being quite innovative," Mr Gibson said.
The new arrivals will also be able to lift containers directly from the hold of ships no matter what the height.
The cranes took three weeks to sail from Shanghai to Auckland and stand at 82.3 metres - that's about 18 metres taller than the Auckland Harbour Bridge.
The captain of the ship was pleased the journey was a success.
Aucklanders flocked to vantage points around the harbour.
The cranes will remain on the ship for another week before being offloaded before they'll be conditioned or six months before starting work next year.
Newshub.
