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The increased use of automation within the maritime industry continues apace, following the news that the Port of Felixstowe has taken delivery of five automated electric rubber-tyred gantry cranes (AeRTGs).
The latest batch of cranes forms part of a broader order for 17 electric cranes from Konecranes of Finland.
The cranes - which have a remote control option - are capable of lifting containers 1-over-6 high (meaning a single container can be lifted over a stack of 6 containers) and span seven rows plus a roadway. Whilst the cranes can be fully-automated, it is expected they will be operated in semi-autonomous mode with the lift to and from the carrying vehicle undertaken using a remote control by an operator based in a newly-refurbished remote control suite at the port.
Commenting on the new cranes, Robert Ashton, Chief Operating Officer of the Port of Felixstowe, said:
“These new cranes are the latest stage of our drive to deliver first-class customer service, improve working conditions for our employees and remove carbon from our operations. We have set an ambitious target to reach Net-Zero for scopes 1 and 2 by 2035. As part of our programme to phase-out all diesel equipment these new cranes take us another step closer to our goal.
We recently increased the maximum depth of berths at the port to 18 metres to increase our ability to accommodate the world’s largest container ships. That upgrade is complemented by these new cranes and the increased use of automated and remote-control technology to improve the efficiency and predictability of service we offer them”.
The new cranes will be unloaded at the port’s Trinity Terminal before being transferred to berths eight and nine where they will be based. Each crane will be put through a commissioning process before entering service.
Port cranes have a demanding and testing job, meaning sometimes things can go wrong.
If you find yourself dealing with a crane-based incident, then you need the experts at Brookes Bell on your side.
We are able to advise on all aspects of crane incidents, from crane design, and crane operation to crane failures. And, our advice has been tested to the highest level.
For more maritime industry insights, news and information, read the Brookes Bell News and Knowledge Hub…
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