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Barcelona’s BEST terminal, operated by Hutchison Ports, has ordered six automatic stacking cranes (ASCs) from Konecranes, with delivery due in the first half of 2019.
The arrival of the cranes will coincide with the closing stages of the second phase of BEST’s expansion, which began in 2014, and the number of automated container storage blocks at the semi-automated terminal has risen from 24 to 27 during this work.
Guillermo Belcastro, Hutchison Ports BEST CEO, said: “This investment will result in a significant increase in operational and storage capacity at the terminal and will contribute to our continuous improvement of service levels both in maritime and land operations.”
The new ASCs are fitted with diesel-electric engines, and the company claims BEST is “one of the most environmentally sustainable facilities in Europe.”
BEST has already received six ASCs this year and currently operates with 11 super post-Panamax cranes, 48 ASCs, two rail mounted gantry (RMG) cranes and 30 shuttle carriers across its 79 ha site and 1,500 m berth.