Cosco invests 20 million in hybrid cranes in Valencia and Bilbao to promote decarbonisation
The port operator CSP Spain, which manages the main container terminal of the Port of Valencia -the one located on the Principe Felipe wharf- has once acquired hybrid RTG cranes from the Finnish manufacturer Konecranes. They are the first hybrid RTG cranes to be commissioned in Europe and will be installed in the group’s maritime terminals, specifically 6 in Bilbao and 5 in Valencia.
Cosco Shipping Ports Spain terminals exceeded 1.8 million containers in the first half of the year, which represents 2.7% above the figure registered in the first six months of 2021, according to data published the matrix Cosco Puertos Marítimos.
This investment comes after the company’s commitment to boost its rail transport business by buying Logitren. The Valencia-Madrid-Lisbon corridor concentrates more than 40% of the container traffic on the Peninsula and is key to the activity of the aforementioned firm’s operator. In addition, the largest terminal in the Grao complex will have a freight train line with Lisbon.
The purchase of the new machinery was formalized in July 2022 at a cost of 20 million euros. With these new cranes it intends to “improve productivity in the Bilbao and Valencian docks, reduce the environmental impact, commit to new technology, improve operability and increase the safety of handlers,” says CSP Spain in a statement.
Technologies
The new rubber-tyred gantry cranes will be fully operational and working to provide a more efficient and sustainable service from the end of October 2023. This type of Hybrid RTG (Rubber Tired Gantry) is characterized by its ecological fuel consumption, since it allows a reduction of up to 50% of this compared to conventional RTG. In terms of safety and ergonomics, they have state-of-the-art systems, such as laser anti-collision, anti-lift trucks and trailers, and remote monitoring systems.
The benefits of hybrid harbor cranes are significant. In addition to the use of batteries, the reduction in the following points stands out: fuel consumption, operating costs, greenhouse gas emissions and noise pollution.