The cranes, the first Konecranes hybrid RTGs to be delivered, will arrive at the Texan port’s Barbours Cut Container Terminal in the first quarter of 2020, with the order set to be booked in the fourth quarter of this year.
The RTG’s hybrid element will have a lithium-ion battery pack and advanced battery management system that will monitor the batteries’ charge level and general health. Konecranes can monitor the system’s status through a TRUCONNECT remote connection.
The RTGs’ hybrid system, fully modular and retrofittable, is also equipped with an eco-efficient Tier 4f engine that will charge the batteries when needed.
The cranes, which will have a lifting capacity of 50 tonnes while stacking containers 1-over-5 high and 6 plus truck lane wide, will come with the Active Load Control system (which eliminates container sway).
They will also offer auto-steering, auto-positioning, stack collision prevention, truck lift prevention and auto-TOS reporting.
Port Houston has been a Konecranes customer for more than a decade and a half and currently operates 90 of its diesel-electric RTGs.
Jussi Suhonen, sales director for the Americas for Konecranes Port Solutions, said that the RTGs will help Port Houston achieve its long-term eco-efficiency objectives.
“Konecranes is constantly pushing the limits of battery technology and electrification to make our container handling equipment more eco-efficient without compromising crane performance in any way,” he said.
“I’m very pleased that Port Houston has the confidence in our technology to select these advanced RTGs.”