Europea Servizi Terminalistici (EST), a subsidiary of the Italian Shipping & Logistics Agency (ISLA), has ordered a new hybrid drive Konecranes Gottwald ESP.8 Mobile Harbor Crane for the Port of Augusta, Sicily.
EST recently secured a 25-year concession to operate Augusta’s new container terminal, the largest port in Sicily by cargo volume.
“As we scale up operations in Augusta, we’re focused on immediate efficiency gains while preparing for a fully electric future,” said Pietro B. Coniglio, managing director of EST and ISLA.
“This first investment in Konecranes hybrid equipment is perfectly aligned with our journey, enabling us to take on more complex cargo in a sustainable manner and to meet the increasing demand for our services, especially from the growing offshore wind industry in the Mediterranean.”
Equipped with a 5.3-metre tower extension and 65-tonne twin-lift spreaders, the 150-tonne capacity crane will enhance Augusta’s ability to handle containers and specialised heavy cargo, including wind energy components.
The hybrid drive combines a diesel engine with ultracapacitors, improving fuel efficiency and reducing emissions. The crane can also be fully electrified once the infrastructure is ready at the port, enabling zero onsite emissions.
Konecranes’ TRUCONNECT monitoring service and a condition-based maintenance system will also help ensure the crane’s efficiency and longevity.
The order, placed in Q1 2025, is expected to be delivered and commissioned by the end of summer. The contract is part of Ecolifting, Konecranes’ vision to increase its handprint while reducing customers’ carbon footprints.
