Automated cranes for Port of Felixstowe

THE LATEST batch of five machines, which also have a remote-control option, are part of an order for 17 electric cranes from Konecranes of Finland.

Port of Felixstowe chief operating officer Robert Ashton, says:

“These new cranes are the latest stage of our drive to deliver a first-class customer service, improve working conditions for our employees and remove carbon from our operations. We have set an ambitious target to reach Net-Zero for scopes 1&2 by 2035. As part of our programme to phase-out all diesel equipment these new cranes take us another step closer to our goal.

“We recently increased the maximum depth of berths at the port to 18 metres to increase our ability to accommodate the world’s largest container ships. That upgrade is complemented by these new cranes and the increased use of automated and remote-control technology to improve the efficiency and predictability of service we offer them.”

The new cranes are capable of lifting containers 1-over-6 high and span seven rows plus a roadway. They are capable of being fully automated but will operate in semi-autonomous mode with the lift to or from the carrying vehicle undertaken using remote control by an operator based in a newly refurbished remote-control suite at the port.

The new cranes are being unloaded at the port’s Trinity Terminal before being transferred to Berths 8&9 where they will be based. Each will go through a commissioning process before entering service.