Kalmar reachstackers boost waterborne traffic in Paris

Paris is a city which puts a premium on environmental concerns; therefore, in consideration of tourists and the residents of houseboats, a requirement was for the equipment to be quiet. In addition, the machines have been painted a subdued dark-grey colour to ensure they blend into the background of the banks of the Seine.

The City of Paris is investing in the development of waterborne traffic for environmental reasons, which last month (October) saw the first food containers arrive in the city by river since the Middle Ages.

One of the reachstackers is used to unload up to 26 containers per day from barges onto lorries at Port de la Bourdonnais, opposite the Eiffel Tower; from there they containers are transported to Franprix grocery stores in central Paris. The other machine is operated at the suburban port of Bonneil sur Marne, where the barges are loaded.