Kuenz RTGs into the USA

Kuenz has booked a breakthrough order for its unique FreeRider RTG design in the USA

FreeRider is the innovative RTG concept unveiled by Kuenz in 2018. It features a unique A frame leg sections and a single girder for the trolley. Full details were reported in this earlier article.

Kuenz has announced it will deliver six FreeRider RTGs to Norfolk Southern Railway for its terminal in Austell, Georgia. The cranes will be delivered for manual operation, but with “minor adjustments they will be ready for full automation,’ said Kuenz.

Using A-frame legs and single girder enables the FreeRider to achieved gantry speeds of up to 160 m/min, which is significantly faster than other RTGs available on the market. They company adds that Norfolk Southern Railway will be the first terminal operator in the US to take advantage of this capability.

The cranes will have a very wide, 116ft span, which is sufficient for 11 container rows, and stack 1 over 4 containers high. “With a wide travel gauge of 116 feet, and the capability of gantry travel at maximum speed, while fully loaded, the Kuenz FreeRider opens a new way of operating an intermodal yard. The Kuenz FreeRider is revolutionizing the market with increased productivity, safety, and reduced operations cost which offers a completely new kind of flexibility to Norfolk Southern’s terminal operations," Kuenz concluded.

FreeRider's unique A-frame leg design.

Separately, Kuenz has booked an order for a barge to shore crane from Linz Service GmbH, which is redeveloping its trimodal terminal in Linz, in the East of Austria, and adding a second crane.

Kuenz will supply a double cantilever RMG with a slewing trolley and telescopic piggy- back spreader. The crane will span over two adjoined barges, four railway tracks, two truck lanes, a working area for mobile handling equipment as well as a storage area. Delivery is scheduled for 2021.

Source: WorldCargo News

Konecranes wins Yilport Tàranto project

Yilport Holding has selected Konecranes to refurbish and bring back into service 23 cranes as part of its plan to create a new and important Mediterranean shipping hub at the port of Tàranto

In November 2018 Yilport won a 49-year concession from the Italian authorities, starting from 2019. The Turkish company plans to use the port’s central location to create a thriving Mediterranean hub, supporting its broader ambition to become one of the top 10 container terminal operators in the world.

Robert Yildirim, owner of Yilport Holding, stated last year that a top priority was to revamp the cranes at what the company now calls Terminal San Cataldo.

He says of the deal with Konecranes: “We have strong ambitions in the Mediterranean. The opportunities presented by Tàranto port require tremendous focus and we are pleased to have Konecranes on board. We look forward to having the port back in full operation by the end of 2020, with more exciting reinvestment plans to follow.”

The contract with Konecranes includes the recommissioning of seven STS cranes and 16 RMGs that are currently inactive. Konecranes will begin the project this month, aiming to first move the seven STS cranes 100m down the quay so they can start operations. Several of the RMGs will also be recommissioned in the first half of 2020, and the remaining RMGs will be brought online by the end of 2020.

Terminal San Cataldo should be fully operational by the end of this year

The agreement supports Konecranes’ strategy to become the premier port services provider to brownfield terminal developments. Konecranes continues to grow its aftermarket port services and product range, including turnkey projects on any brand of crane.

It is understood that Yilport issued a private tender for this project and it is almost certain that Kalmar would have bid on it, and possibly also ZPMC.

No information is available on the value of the contract, but Konecranes has an inbuilt advantage in that, through its acquisition of Terex MHPS, it owns the IPR and references of the former Fantuzzi-Reggiane group, which built all the cranes at Tàranto. Going way back to the original split of the former Preussag Noell business lines between Fantuzzi-Reggiane and the then KCI Konecranes, Konecranes also owns the FLUIDTS system, which could be used to move the STS cranes.

Vicent Lladó, Director, Konecranes, Port Services Mediterranean, who is based in Spain, told WorldCargo News that Konecranes’ port service team in Italy is based around former Fantuzzi Reggiane engineers and technicians, who know the cranes and the local market.

Source: WorldCargo News

PSA group handles 85.2M TEU (+ 5.2%) in 2019

PSA International Pte Ltd handled 85.2M TEU in 2019, of which PSA Singapore contributed 36.9M TEU (+1.6%) and overseas interests 48.3M TEU (+ 8.1%)

Tan Chong Meng, Group CEO of PSA, said: “2019 was a year where the PSA Group expanded its horizons against a backdrop of trade wars, climate action and varying technological impacts on business and society.

"By welcoming terminals such as DCT Gdansk, together with PSA Halifax and Penn Terminals into our fold, we have broadened our reach and ability to offer greater connectivity to new economies in the Baltics and North America. Beyond our traditional port domain, we also redoubled our efforts to develop more transport options for cargo owners and movers through our new PSA Cargo Solutions arm.

"We also continued to develop CALISTA as a value-adding and interoperable platform for stakeholders in the global supply chain with Global eTrade Services (GeTS).

“Thanks to the efforts of the global PSA team and strong support from our customers and partners, PSA Group has achieved good volume growth for 2019. My deepest appreciation goes out to our unions, staff and management for their sterling teamwork and steadfast contributions throughout the year.

“As we begin a new decade in 2020, PSA will continue to build on our global network of ports while harnessing technologies to improve our productivity to serve our customers better. Our vision is to empower supply chain stakeholders with the ability to move their goods with greater intelligence and agility through the Internet of Logistics, and to work alongside our partners to enable greater sustainability for the whole supply chain.”

Source: WorldCargo News