PEMA proposes environment initiative for container handling equipment

“We’re seeking to create an industry standard that will help port authorities and terminal operators measure the environmental impact of container handling equipment throughout its lifecycle according to a set of clear, common parameters,” explained Mr Korpela, director, QEHS at Kalmar and member of the PEMA Safety & Environment Committee, who is also heading the working group tasked with developing the initiative.

“PEMA is home to an unrivalled pool of expertise, knowledge and experience of the global ports sector, and we’re working to apply these resources to promote best practice in this vital area,” he added.

“We already have some key players within the equipment manufacturing and ports sector on board and are looking forward to working with them to make this proposal a reality.”

The proposals, presented at PEMA’s recent annual members’ meeting in Long Beach, California, are intended to establish the following key points:

• Test cycles and conditions for various product groups
• Criteria and calculation methods to be used when defining environmental impact
• Environmental friendly product rating

While yet to be formally determined, the initiative will likely incorporate mobile equipment such as reach-stackers forklift trucks, terminal tractors and straddle carriers, and crucially RTG, RMG, ASC and STS cranes.

The Committee’s working group plans to define test cycles and criteria for calculation methods, which are likely to include fuel/energy efficiency, carbon dioxide emissions, other exhaust emissions, noise levels, and recyclability, and will ultimately form the basis for a standard PEMA-approved green product rating.

“It is important to measure those environmental factors that are most relevant for terminal operators and the wider community. Naturally, we will also be working in close co-ordination with other organisations’ standardisation work,” said Mr Korpela.

Green roadmap

PEMA often co-operates with other industry organisations and groups and fora, sharing expertise in areas such as safety, environmental stewardship, technological advances and regulatory compliance.

“The proposals are designed to provide a roadmap for container handling manufacturers and operators with comparable and transparent information on the environmental impact of equipment throughout its lifecycle,” said Frank Kho, Senior VP Cargotec, who is also Vice Chair of the PEMA Safety & Environmental Committee and member of the new working group.

“Energy efficient, environmentally friendly equipment can support efficient operations and lower Total Cost of Ownership – in addition to improving customer and community satisfaction,” he said.

The initiative attempts to establish a baseline for improvement, ie reduction in environmental impact, in terms of comparability between existing and new equipment and comparability for customers, investors and community representatives.

Furthermore, the initiative will enable customers to rate and present the environmental impact of container handling equipment against standardised and proven data sets.

“The initiative will enable port authorities and terminal operators to transform theoretical projections and estimations regarding environmental impact into actual, tested figures. It will remove the uncertainty typically associated with environmental impact,” said Mr Kho.

In addition to initiatives such as these, PEMA regularly publishes information papers, independent research reports and technology briefings intended to inform decision makers in the ports and terminals sector regarding the design, manufacture and operation of port equipment. All publications are available for free download at pema.org/publications/