COSCO Piraeus orders a further nine Kalmar E-RTGs

Piraeus Container Terminal (PCT) in Greece has signed a repeat order with Kalmar for nine all-electric rubber-tyred gantry cranes (RTGs).  The cranes, four of which are the world’s widest, will help the port meet its twin goals of increasing both capacity and savings. Delivery is scheduled for 2015.

This order further consolidates the partnership between the manufacturer and the terminal.  Li Jianchun, deputy general manager of PCT, explained: “We currently operate Kalmar RTGs, straddle carriers, reachstackers, forklift trucks, empty container handlers and terminal tractors. The latest Kalmar E-One2 Zero Emission RTGs go beyond regular stacking capacity, with four of the units 10+1 wide and five 9+1 wide, which will help us maximise space utilisation in the container yard.”

The cranes will be fitted with Kalmar’s ‘SmartRail’ automatic gantry steering system for safer operation around the yard, and will also reduce carbon emissions and lower costs of ownership. The order follows the delivery of 12 similar units to the terminal in 2013.