Oulu extends cargo handling with Konecranes Gottwald

(Posted on 04/07/24)

The Finnish Port of Oulu has ordered a Konecranes Gottwald ESP.7 Portal Harbor Crane to improve cargo handling capability at their Main Quay. In addition to handling general cargo, the new Generation 6 machine allows operators to reach across special RoRo vessels that have containers stacked high on deck. Ordered in Q2 2024, the crane will be delivered in Q2 2025.

One of the busiest seaports in northwestern Finland, the Port of Oulu provide extensive cargo services at three commercial harbour facilities, including Oritkari. As modern commercial sea traffic employs different types of vessels, the new Generation 6 portal harbour crane will be used to handle the RoRo vessels with containers stacked high on deck. It will also increase flexibility to handle general cargo as well as heavy project cargo up to 125 t.

“This new portal harbour crane will expand our container handling capacity, adding essential flexibility to handle also other kind of cargo. Slewing gives it the extra range of motion to access every container on the RoRo vessels, including those in hard-to-reach corners. In addition, its electric drive will reduce our energy consumption, which aligns to our state environmental permit,” says Marko Mykkänen, Managing Director, Port of Oulu.

“The outstanding performance from the two Konecranes cranes onsite already in the Port of Oulu convinced the customer that a Generation 6 portal harbour crane was the right solution for their current needs. We’ll be able to install the crane on existing rails, minimizing downtime as the port transitions to a new era of productivity,” says Hans-Jürgen Schneider, Regional Sales Manager, Port Solutions, Konecranes.

The order is for one Konecranes Gottwald ESP.7 Portal Harbor Crane, with a working radius of up to 51 m and a maximum capacity of 125 t to serve container ships up to post-Panamax class. Strong lifting capacity curves, improved handling rates and a high classification ensure a long service life. Powered from the harbour mains by cable reel, it eliminates local exhaust emissions and collects lowering and braking energy for auxiliary consumption on the crane or to be fed back into the grid. Tailored for the existing portal, the crane has a track gauge of 18 m with a clearance height of 7 m and is to be mounted closer to the water side to maximize its working radius. To support this asymmetrical design, there are 8 wheels on each corner on the water side and 6 wheels on each corner on the land side.

This order 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.