Hutchison Ports’ BEST terminal in Barcelona has added six new ASCs from Konecranes.
In March the BEST container terminal in the Port of Barcelona, received 6 new automated stacking cranes (ASC) from Konecranes, with TMEIC drives and controls, increasing its storage capacity from 24 to 27 ASC blocks.
Assembly and commissioning is currently underway and the three new blocks are expected to be operational in June.
Guillermo Belcastro, Hutchison Ports BEST CEO stated: “This investment will result in a significant increase in operational and storage capacity at the terminal and will contribute to our continuous improvement of service levels both in maritime and land operations”.
BEST has 1500m of berth with depth of 16.5m, 11 Super Post-Panamax quay cranes that are able to operate the biggest vessels in the world, 48 ASCs, 2 RMGs for its rail yard and 30 Shuttle Carriers.
Since opening in 2012 BEST has become a flagship for Hutchison Ports, and a port automaton success story. Hutchison Ports says the facility is the first “semi-automated terminal” developed by the group and has “continued to set new standards for ports in Southern Europe: achieving a ship productivity rate of more than 200 movements per hour and a sustained average performance of more than 40 movements per hour and by crane, one of the highest in the world”.