STRONG DEMAND FOR STS CRANES

Strong demand for container cranes continues on a global basis. Table 1 highlights recent sector developments spanning recent deliveries and orders placed. The following represents a summary of developments:

6 Eurogate Container Terminal Wilhelmshaven, a JV of Eurogate (70 per cent) and Hapag-Lloyd (30 per cent), has ordered two STS gantry cranes with an outreach of twenty-six boxes, increasing the total number of cranes it operates to 10. Orders for a further six units are planned.

6 Medcenter Container Terminal, in Gioia Tauro, has taken delivery of three units, with an outreach of 25 boxes, as part of a US$58 million investment that commenced in 2021 when Terminal Investment

Limited (TIL) acquired the 50 per cent in the facility held by Eurogate.

6 A smaller gantry unit, with an outreach of 19 container rows has been delivered to the Co. Na.Te.Co. facility in Naples, owned by Marinvest, a subsidiary of Mediterranean Shipping Co. (MSC).

6 Congo Terminal at Pointe Noire, operated by Bolloré Africa Logistics, another MSC subsidiary, has received two cranes with an outreach of 23 boxes, taking the total cranes to

Shoreside Power Momentum

Further interest in shoreside power being provided at ports has been confirmed and on a wide geographic basis.

In the US, Port Everglades (FL) has completed a study assessing the capacity of the existing electrical grid and the required upgrades to deliver shore power to eight cruise terminals.

The plan recommended by the port will see delivery of up to 16 MW of electricity being provided simultaneously to each of the eight locations. If fully implemented, this shore power and electrification initiative will remove 11,366 metric tons of CO2 while also reducing NOx by 75 per cent and SO2 emissions by 51 per cent – or

Testing Hydrogen

Fundación Valenciaport, (MSC terminal), and representatives of the Valencia dockers, have visited the Hyster-Yale Group facilities in Weeze (Germany) to test the hydrogen reach stacker that Hyster is developing under the European H2PORTS project framework. Once the new unit arrives in Valencia, it will be tested for two years, working in conjunction with the port’s mobile Hydrogen Refuelling Station, developed by CNH2.

equivalent to taking 2470 cars off the road annually, according to the port authority.

The project has an estimated cost of around US$20 million per cruise terminal, giving a total investment of US$160 million, with construction potentially commencing in mid-2024 and full completion before the end of 2027. Carnival Corporation, Disney Cruise Line, and the Royal Caribbean Group were all actively involved in the study.

Meanwhile, ABL Group has concluded there are two possible brownfield sites that could offer opportunities to install a solar photovoltaic (PV) plant at the Port of Mombasa, Kenya for shoreside power supply.

Allread for TDT

Terminal Darsena Toscana (TDT), at the Port of Livorno, Italy, is now using Allread technology to automate trucking departures. Instead of performing the task manually, Allread has installed OCR in two lanes for the exit gate operation. Giuseppe Caleo, Commercial Director, TDT, states that Allread’s software is “easy to install and use and the algorithms work really fast and deliver good results with minimal hardware requirements.”

“The study found that significant reduction in the local burning of heavy fuel oils can be secured from the use of cold ironing [shore power], resulting in an improvement to local air quality,” explained Aimee Besant, Energy Storage Lead, ABL Group, adding that a 5–10 MW peak solar plant energy system could be harnessed to support a green energy shore power system.

The project was commissioned following the proposed introduction of the Green Ports Policy by the Kenyan Ports Authority which plans for all vessels at the port of Mombasa to turn off onboard generators and operate from shore power.

RMGs at Gateway

DP World has increased rail capacity at London Gateway by 50 per cent by introducing two new Rail Mounted Gantry (RMG) cranes. The total investment of £12 million (US$14.9 million) follows the operator confirming it has commenced construction of a fourth container berth at a cost of £350 million (US$433.4 million), which will increase terminal capacity by over 30 per cent when operations commence in 2024.

eight. These are supplemented by four MHCs.

6 Red Sea Gateway Terminal (RSGT), Jeddah has received three cranes, each with a 25 box outreach, raising the total units at the facility to 24 in total.

6 The new Qinzhou Automated Container Terminal, which commenced operations in July 2022, has received three cranes with a 25-box outreach, with a further four units on order. The initial 1 million TEU p.a. capacity will rise, in time, to 2.6 million TEU p.a.

6 The US East Coast Port of Virginia has agreed an order for five new cranes, to be split across two of its container terminals, as part of its equipment renewal plan. An outreach of 26 containers wide will facilitate the handling of vessels up to and including ULCVs. Upon delivery, Norfolk Harbour will have 30 STS units.

Briefs

Gangavaram Loco

Gangavaram Port, in India, has confirmed the arrival of a new locomotive train to boost the port’s operating capacity and efficiency in rake handling (a line of coupled freight wagons/ railcars that move together).

In January 2023, the port set a new record of handling 600 rakes, beating its previous high of 594 rakes in December 2022. Gangavaram Port Ltd (GPL) is a 100 per cent owned subsidiary of Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd.