The Port of San Diego’s two new all-electric Gottwald Generation 6 Mobile Harbor Cranes from Konecranes have been delivered to the port’s Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal (TAMT).
The new cranes are the first of their kind in North America and will reportedly help the port improve public health and air quality.
The cranes are anticipated to be operational later this year, and they will replace the diesel-powered crane currently in use at TAMT.
The port ordered the battery supported electric cranes from Konecranes for approximately $14 million and spent an additional $8.9 million to make the needed electrical infrastructure improvements to support the cranes. This included $2.7 million in grant funding from the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District.
The conversion from a diesel-powered crane to an all-electric crane system is a big step toward achieving a goal of the port’s Maritime Clean Air Strategy (MCAS) of transitioning all cargo handling equipment to zero emissions by 2030.
In addition to the public health and environmental benefits, the new crane system is expected to allow the port to compete for more business.
The cranes will represent the heaviest lift capability of any crane system currently in place on the West Coast – up to 400 metric tonnes (MT) versus the 100 MT lifting capacity of the port’s diesel crane.
Most of the heavy-lift cargoes destined for this region weigh more than 200 MT, including larger pieces of solar, wind, and industrial energy equipment as well as project cargoes.
With their heavier capacity and faster offloading speed, the new cranes are anticipated to improve the port’s existing operations when crane movements are needed also better.
“These all-electric mobile harbour cranes are a game changer for public health, the environment, and our regional economy. It’s a win, win, win,” said Chairman Rafael Castellanos, Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners.
“By replacing our diesel-operated cargo handling equipment with electric equipment, like these cranes, we continue to ensure the air on and around the terminal is cleaner to breathe, we reduce our environmental impacts, and we fulfil our responsibility to support commerce and jobs in our region,” Castellanos added.
READ: Zuidnatie orders new Konecranes Gottwald crane to raise capacity
In addition to being the first in North America to have all-electric dual mobile harbour cranes, the Port of San Diego:
- Has an ambitious strategy to reduce pollution from seaport operations through the Maritime Clean Air Strategy.
- Will be the first port in the country to have an electric tug. Crowley is building the eTug and anticipates it arriving in San Diego in the coming months.
- Was among the first ports to have shore power at its terminals, which allows vessels to plug into electric power when they’re in port, so they don’t have to run their diesel engines.
- Was among the first ports to adopt a Climate Action Plan in 2013.
This delivery comes less than three weeks after Konecranes won a public tender from Copenhagen Malmö Port (CMP) to supply container handling equipment for a new container terminal in Copenhagen.
