Posted on October 13, 2022
Port Houston in Texas, US, has ordered 14 hybrid-powered Konecranes rubber-tyred gantry (RTG) cranes for its Barbours Cut Container Terminal and 12 hybrid Konecranes RTGs for the Bayport Container Terminal.
The hybrid RTGs feature advanced Li-ion battery technology and a battery management system that monitors the charge level and health of the batteries. Konecranes can monitor the status of this system via its TruConnect remote connection. The hybrid power system is modular and retrofittable. It includes an eco-efficient Tier 4f diesel engine that will charge the batteries when necessary.
The RTGs have a lifting capacity of 50 tons while stacking containers 1-over-5 high and 6 plus truck lane wide. They will be equipped with the Active Load Control system, which eliminates container sway. They also include the following smart features: Auto-steering, Stack Collision Prevention and Truck Lift Prevention.
The order supports the port’s expansion as it gets ready to receive larger container ships and higher volumes of container traffic. The order was booked in Q3 2022. The crane deliveries will begin in the second half of 2023 and continue until mid-2024.
The order is in addition to the port’s current fleet of Konecranes RTGs at its Barbours Cut and Bayport container terminals. Across the two terminals, the current fleet comprises 90 diesel Konecranes RTGs and 26 hybrid Konecranes RTGs.
Port Houston is expanding due to a channel improvement programme and land infrastructure investment. Container volumes grew by a record 15% year-over-year in 2021.
“Port Houston is forging ahead in both productivity and container crane eco-efficiency. Hybrid Konecranes RTGs have a proven track record, and this new order from Port Houston exemplifies this,” says Jussi Suhonen, VP Regional Sales, Port Solutions, Konecranes.
Konecranes group sales totalled €3.2bn in 2021.
