The test machines have now permanently joined the existing fleet of 15 Konecranes reach stackers and forklifts in the port.

The hybrid reach stacker, called the SMV 4531 TB5 HLT, was launched in January 2013. It features a serial hybrid diesel/electric driveline, an electrified hydraulic closed circuit lifting system and super capacitor-based energy storage. The hybrid reach stacker demonstrates a saving on fuel consumption of between 30% and 50% during normal handling of fully loaded containers compared to conventional reach stackers. Over the test period the tested machines’ reduced emissions amounted to 80 tons less CO2.

Excellent results

During the field tests independent operators established that not only can the machine guarantee significant fuel savings but they also confirmed improved responsiveness and acceleration resulting in enhanced productivity. The machine’s smoother operation also improved operator comfort leading to less fatigue.

“We are very happy with the performance of the machine and not just on the fuel saving and reduction of the CO2 emission. The machine’s reliability, performance and driver comfort have exceeded our expectations”, says Mats Fernebrand, Purchasing Manager, Port of Helsingborg.

“The completion of our field tests has confirmed that the hybrid reach stacker offers unparalleled savings on running costs and energy consumption. These efficiencies are ideal for clients looking to be frontrunners in eco-efficient technology without compromising on heavy lifting performance”, says Lars Fredin, Vice-President and Head of Business Unit Lift Trucks, Konecranes.

Moving Forward

Due to the global interest in the hybrid reach stacker, which was recently awarded FLTA’s (Fork Lift Truck Association) excellence award in the environmental category, Konecranes has decided to offer serial produced hybrid reach stackers. The lessons from the field testing will be used to further improve productivity and energy efficiency while engineers continue to work on lowering the emissions of pollutants and noise.

The cranes will gradually start working there as of fall 2014. Starting in June 2014, the cranes will first be delivered to China where the barges are built. There, the cranes will be connected to barges via their roller bearing slew ring at the shipyard. The floating cranes will then be towed to Kalimantan, the Indonesian part of Borneo, to help Winning handle bauxite on the open sea. With the commissioning of the three cranes, a total of eight floating cranes from Terex Port Solutions will be in operation off the coast of Kalimantan. Winning will be the fifth terminal operator on the open sea in the area. 

Loading from river barges to sea-going vessels

Bauxite, from which aluminum is extracted, occurs in abundance inside Kalimantan. On its way to the smelting works, including one operated by the Winning International Group in the West-Kalimantan province, the bauxite is first transported from the mining regions to the open sea on river barges. Here it is loaded onto sea-going vessels. To make future handling off the coast of the island more efficient, Winning is relying on floating cranes. The cranes are based on proven Terex Gottwald mobile harbour technology with similar features and capabilities. The G HPK 8200 B cranes provide a 63-t grab curve and a maximum hoisting speed of 140 m/min. They are powered by diesel generators installed on board the floating crane barges. Each barge also provides accommodations for 30 crew members, which includes dining and recreation rooms in addition to an operations center and a workshop.

Productivity even under tough conditions

Built for use on the open sea, the three cranes for Winning are designed in accordance with Lloyd’s Register Code for Lifting Appliances in a Marine Environment which allow the cranes to operate at wind speeds up to 24 m/s and maximum wave heights of 2.5 m. Winning opted for cargo handling cranes that combine high productivity with flexibility, as Sun Xiushun, president of the Winning International Group, underlines: “With floating cranes from Terex Port Solutions, we have decided on a top-level technological solution. These cranes can also be used reliably under tough conditions and therefore help to significantly increase the total handling volume of our fleet.” He explains that after other solutions proved unsuitable, Winning has consciously opted for TPS in order to achieve its growth objectives. In regards to the barges, Winning also involved a third-party supplier to equip them with an advanced anti-rolling system to improve operational performance. This is the first time Winning used this system. The system is designed to allow the floating cranes to operate at maximum working speeds and help each crane to handle more than 25,000 t of bauxite daily in the harsh, open-sea conditions.

Eight cranes in eight years for Indonesia

For Klaus Roehrig, Regional Director at TPS, the order from Winning is another important chapter in the success story of Terex Gottwald floating cranes in Indonesia: “The fact that we have sold eight cranes here since 2006 speaks volumes for the ability of TPS to offer high-performance solutions tailored to specific customer requirements and environmental conditions.” Roehrig is pleased to gain a new customer and that Winning has seen rapid development over its twelve years of existence, and is still clearly on a growth course: “Winning has become firmly established in South Asia, particularly in the transport and handling of bulk material. We are delighted that such a dynamic group is counting on three Terex Gottwald floating cranes based on our mobile harbour crane technology for its planned growth phases,” Roehrig continues.

A total of 33 floating cranes worldwide

Since their market launch in 2004, floating cranes from TPS have quickly become accepted in various environments. A total of 33 of these cranes, including those for Winning, are or will be in operation worldwide. Apart from Indonesia, majority of our floating cranes can be found on the Mississippi River in the United States. Similarly to Indonesia, US customers benefit from the flexibility, high level performance and ease of servicing of the cranes due to the Terex Gottwald modular crane system design: in places where there are no, or only a few, quay facilities available, Terex Gottwald floating cranes in transshipment and ship-to-shore handling represent a competitive variant for handling all types of cargo. In addition to the open sea, they can also operate in ports, on rivers and in coastal waters.

In cooperation with the G6 alliance,  Zim will be offering top-level, fast and reliable services, with improved transit time and extended port coverage.

The new structure is composed of three weekly loops, NP1, NP2 and NP3. Hereunder are the new loops rotations:

North Pacific 1 (NP1): Singapore – Laem Chabang – Da Chan Bay – Hong Kong – Yantian – Vancouver – Tacoma – Seattle – Pusan – Kaohsiung

North Pacific 2 (NP2): Hong Kong – Yantian –Kaohsiung – Shanghai – Pusan – Tacoma – Seattle – Vancouver – Yokohama – Pusan – Kwangyang

North Pacific 3 (NP3): Qingdao – Ningbo – Shanghai – Pusan – Vancouver – Tacoma – Vancouver – Tokyo – Nagoya – Kobe

The new structures offer customers an array new and significant advantages. With the additional third loop ZIM now offers better frequency and port coverage. Customers will benefit from first-rate services connecting South & North China and Korea and Pacific North West. Two gateways, Vancouver & Tacoma, with smooth and fast rail connection, allows for a best-in-market PNW product to inland US destinations.

As a leader in the cross-Pacific trade ZIM strives to constantly improve the services offered to customers and to provide new opportunities along with the highest level of customer service.

At the end of 2013, Konecranes received an order for 5 straddle carriers from MSC Home Terminal in Antwerp, Belgium. MSC Home Terminal is a joint venture between the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) and PSA Antwerp. MSC Home Terminal is the largest container terminal in the port of Antwerp and the most important European hub for MSC. The parties involved have agreed not to disclose the value of the order.

Also in late 2013, Konecranes received an order for 13 straddle carriers from Maher Terminals LLC in the USA. This is Konecranes’ second straddle carrier delivery to Maher, who operates the largest container terminals in the ports of New York and New Jersey and a fleet of over 160 straddle carriers. The Konecranes straddle carriers will be delivered to Maher in June 2014. Again, the parties involved have agreed not to disclose the value of the order.

In both of the cases described above, the Konecranes straddle carriers are equipped with Konecranes electric drives and power train components, ensuring high durability, reliability and performance while keeping operating and service costs low. The straddle carriers have a hoisting capacity of 40 tons in single container operation and 50 tons in twin-twenty operation, lifting 1-over-2 containers high.

“We appreciate the trust that MSC Home Terminal and Maher have in our diesel-electric straddle carriers,” says Tommi Rautavalta, General Manager Straddle Carriers, Konecranes. “We want to help our customers reach and exceed their business goals, today and in the future. Our straddle carrier technology is excellent, with unique features such as greaseless suspension. Our brake-by-wire system must also be mentioned, as well as our fully automatic truck-mode steering. This gives a better drive experience, better stability in long container stacks, and reduced tire wear. We are also determined to offer world-class service.”