Port Houston has ordered 14 hybrid Konecranes rubber tyred gantry cranes (RTGs) for its Barbours Cut Container Terminal and 12 hybrid Konecranes RTGs for its Bayport Container Terminal.
The order, which is expected to support the port’s expansion, was booked in the third quarter of 2022, while the crane deliveries will start in the second half of 2023 and continue to mid-2024.
Port Houston aims to strengthen its equipment as channel improvement programme and land infrastructure investment are expected to increase box traffic at the port, which reported a year over year 15% container volume growth in 2021.
Across Port Houston’s Barbours Cut Container Terminal and Bayport Container Terminal, the current fleet comprises 90 diesel Konecranes RTGs and 26 hybrid Konecranes RTGs.
The hybrid Konecranes RTGs on order feature advanced Li-ion battery technology and a battery management system that monitors the charge level and general health of the batteries. Konecranes can monitor the status of this system via TRUCONNECT® remote connection. The hybrid power system is completely modular and retrofittable. It includes an eco-efficient Tier 4f diesel engine that will charge the batteries when necessary.
“Port Houston is forging ahead in both productivity and container crane eco-efficiency. Hybrid Konecranes RTGs have a proven track record, and this new order from Port Houston exemplifies this,” commented Jussi Suhonen, Konecranes vice president of regional sales at port solutions.
The RTGs will have a lifting capacity of 50 tons while stacking containers 1-over-5 high and 6 plus truck lane wide. They will be equipped with the Active Load Control system, which eliminates container sway. They also include the following smart features: Auto-steering, Stack Collision Prevention and Truck Lift Prevention.
