Kalmar pioneers LNG reachstacker technology

To deliver the prototype, Kalmar, which is the primary external partner in the GREENCRANES project, has signed a partnership agreement with Global Service, leader of the pilot.

Stefan Johansson, director, business development for reachstackers and empty container handlers, Kalmar, said to Port Strategy: “The LNG power is a very interesting future fuel alternative both for port equipment business as well as for the whole shipping industry. Natural gas extractions are increasing and this can clearly be seen as one of the future trends.”

“The key benefit is that LNG will take emissions to a minimum so a LNG powered reachstacker, for example, is a very cost effective solution for a better environment,” he added.

The project’s pilot phases are: design of a reachstacker that adopts alternative environmental compatible fuelling, dual fuel powered engine; integration and realisation of a prototype according to the design; functional testing of the prototype; and pilot of the prototype and analysis of performance in a real port container terminal.

GREENCRANES is a project co-financed by the European Union, Trans-European Transport Network.

It aims to study and define methods and measures to describe port container terminal’s energy profiles, analyse different eco-efficient technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase productivity.

The prototype, which is expected to deliver significant results in terms of environmental friendly operation, is expected to be ready at the end of this month.

A public demonstration of the pilot will take place on 4 December 2013 at the Port of Livorno, Italy.