CARGOTEC: SUCCESS FOLLOWED BY UNCERTAINTY AND AMBITION

Orders ReceivedQ4/22Q4/21Change20222021Change

Kalmar5445136%208120631%

Hiab377384-2%180717135%

MacGregor26915375%97665250%

Total1190105113%4862442710%

Sales

Kalmar61843044%1943151228%

Hiab45633935%1578125026%

MacGregor16514117%5695533%

Total1,23991036%4,0893,31523%

After what it describes as an “excellent 2022,” Cargotec has entered 2023 with a record order book. However, the global equipment manufacturer also believes this year will be full of uncertainties.

“Current economic forecasts and the global situation, as well as price increases and availability challenges of materials and components still create uncertainty,” the company announced in its annual results presentation.

Table 1 represents a summary of both orders received and sales for Q4 2022 and Q4 2021, plus the full calendar year of 2022 and 2021. Notable results for the full year period 2022 include the value of orders received up by 10 per cent while sales increased by a strong 23 per cent.

However, orders received and sales are only a small part of the story for Cargotec. In 2022, the company published new performance targets for its core businesses including a comparable operating profit of 12 per cent in 2025 and 15 per cent by 2030.

In addition, it has firm targets relating to environmental factors, including doubling the eco portfolio sales growth compared to traditional products and a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (in the value chain) by at least 50 per cent by 2030 (from its 2019 base level).

The company notes: “We continued to invest in product development to support our customers’ business and promote environmental solutions. As examples, Kalmar started serial production of fully electric reachstackers while Hiab now provides an electric version of all its truck mounted forklifts.”

Cargotec’s outgoing CEO, Mika Vehviläinen, who was appointed in 2013, retires at the end of March 2023, with his replacement confirmed as Casimir Lindholm with effect from April 1, 2023.

Porto Itapoa Invests In New Hardware

The Brazilian Port of Itapoá has invested US$25 million in 10 remote-controlled Rubber-Tyred Gantry Cranes (RTGs), claiming it is the first port in South America to utilise this type of equipment.

These new hybrid RTGs are able to stack containers six high, while also using six times less fuel than a conventional diesel-powered machine. The first units are scheduled to arrive in May 2023, with the second batch due in November 2023.

This latest investment follows Porto Itapoá recently acquiring a new, US$11 million Portainer, that offers a 70m outreach and will complement the existing six similar units (of which four have an outreach of 55m and two 65m).

Hybrid Antwerp

DP World’s Antwerp

Gateway Terminal in Belgium has ordered nine new Kalmar hybrid straddle carriers. Each unit has a lifting capacity of 60 tonnes and reduces fuel consumption by up to 40 per cent compared to equivalent dieselpowered machines. Delivery is scheduled for Q4 2023 and the new equipment will replace older machines currently in service. Of the current terminal fleet of 58 straddle carriers, 42 are hybrid models.

Electric NIT

Norfolk International Terminals (NIT) at the Port of Virginia on the US East Coast is now using four MAFI T230e Electric Yard Tractors. Although the terminal has an existing fleet of 100 diesel yard tractors, these new units are the first zero-emission vehicles in use. They are being outfitted with GPS technology to connect to NIT’s terminal operating system to enable location tracking and route mapping.

Guyana First

At the same time, the port has also invested US$1.97 million in a new HCVM XT scanner that has been designed to inspect containers entering the yard. This piece of equipment was manufactured by British security company, Smiths Detection, and is also the first of its kind understood to be in use in Brazil.

The first mobile cranes have been ordered for use in Guyana. Two port operators in the country, Muneshwers and John Fernandes, have made a joint order for two Generation 6 Konecranes Gottwald Mobile Harbour Cranes. Local press reports are suggesting that the Port of Georgetown will be the likely location of the equipment and with the machines possessing a working radius of 49m and a capacity of 125 tonnes container ships of up to Panamax size will be able to be worked. To date, only geared vessels call at the port.

If my inbox is any indication, 2023 is going to be another big year for D and D - not demurrage and detention (or Dungeons and Dragons!!!), but, rather, digitalisation and data. This is not new; it’s a wave that continues to grow, with no sign of cresting right away. Ports can play an important role here, but there needs to be a move away from the fragmentation that has characterised data efforts. There is a cliché about each port being unique, but there are many commonalities embedded into how business information flows.

Worth noting now is a review of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) of its Global Integrated Shipping Information System (GISIS), which includes information about ports (among its more than two dozen modules). According to the IMO, “The review process aims to evaluate the functionality of each GISIS module in depth and identify specific actions to improve the portal and the overall user experience.” While some parts of GISIS