The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) has confirmed it is investing US$170 million on 55 new hybrid- engine rubber-tyred gantries (RTGs) to support the Ocean Terminal at the Port of Savannah.
The decision behind the spend is two-fold. First, it is a key part of redeveloping the 200-acre terminal into an all-container facility, while secondly, the new units reduce emissions by 50 per cent in comparison to conventional diesel machines.
GPA explains that on the basis of each RTG working an average of 4000 operating hours per annum, the hybrid engine will reduce emissions by 127 tonnes per unit per annum, or the equivalent of almost 7000 tonnes across the entire 55-RTG fleet.
These hybrid RTGs operate exclusively from electric battery power, with diesel generators only in use to recharge the batteries. As a result, GPA is expecting to see a reduction in fuel consumption by an estimated 47 per cent compared to the all-diesel machines, which translates to a reduction of 8800 gallons of diesel per crane per annum, or almost 500,000 gallons across the Ocean Terminal fleet on a yearly basis.
Consequently, on the basis of current fuel prices, GPA is expecting a reduction in fuel operating expenses by circa US$1.6 million/pa.
