Caribbean port extends capacity with Konecranes Gottwald Gen 6 MHC

(Posted on 18/08/24)

The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Port Authority (SVGPA) has ordered a Konecranes Gottwald ESP.7 Mobile Harbour Crane to boost general cargo and container handling capacity in the Port of Kingstown. This new Generation 6 machine will join their existing Konecranes Gottwald mobile harbour crane in a new terminal, opening in Q1 2025, as they continue to expand their services in a growing market.

During the delivery of the new crane, Konecranes will also relocate the existing Generation 5 crane from the previous terminal. The new crane will be able to run on electricity from the harbour mains, reducing carbon emissions.

“The new terminal is key to the future of our local businesses. With two Konecranes Gottwald mobile harbour cranes in the terminal, we can handle far more throughput. Plus, the electric drive on the new crane is in alignment with our long-term goal of lowering local carbon emissions,” says Carl James, CEO, SVGPA.

“The Port of Kingstown got their first Konecranes Gottwald mobile harbour crane in 2007, and it still delivers reliable performance. This new order reflects SVGPA’s faith in the performance and reliability of our equipment,” says Andreas Moeller, Senior Regional Sales Manager, Americas, Port Solutions, Konecranes.

The Konecranes Gottwald ESP.7 Mobile Harbor Crane has a working radius of up to 51m and a maximum capacity of 125t. Strong lifting capacity curves, improved handling rates and a high classification ensure a long service life. When connected to the harbour mains by cable reel, it eliminates local exhaust emissions and collects lowering and braking energy in ultracapacitors. For unplugged operation, the crane is powered by a smart hybrid drive combining a fuel-optimized diesel generator with the ultracapacitors that supply additional power for heavy lifts. Konecranes will provide an initial spare parts package to speed up maintenance and minimize downtime.
This contract is part of?Ecolifting Konecranes’ vision to increase its handprint – meaning the beneficial environmental impact that can be achieved with our product and service portfolio – while reducing customers’ carbon footprints. From eco-optimizing diesel drives, to hybridization and fully-electrified fleets, we will continue to do more with less.

A strong focus on customers and commitment to business growth and continuous improvement make Konecranes a material handling industry leader. This is underpinned by investments in digitalization and technology, plus our work to make material flows more efficient with solutions that decarbonize the economy and advance circularity and safety.