Port Equipment News

Crowley and Teamsters Union Local 901 have reached a new labor agreement to extend their longtime partnership into its sixth decade serving the shipping and logistics needs of Puerto Rico.The agreement, recently ratified by union members, covers the 200 employees who work at Crowley’s Isla Grande Terminal in San Juan until 2029. Employees there serve as port equipment operators, truck drivers and support operations in various other roles important to safe and reliable operations.“We have successfully worked with the Teamsters Union to provide safe…

The Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority on Monday revealed details of a program to slash carbon emissions to net zero by 2040 in an effort to improve air quality and the health of residents.Working with technical experts from sustainability consultancy Tunley Environmental, and thanks to funding from the State of Michigan, it established that operations across the port region were responsible for 27,869 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, and that urgent action was needed.“The maritime industry is responsible for 3% of global emissions, and it’s growing.

Victoria International Container Terminal (VICT), ICTSI’s operations at the Port of Melbourne in Australia, recently completed Phase 3A of its expansion project.VICT can now accommodate neo-Panamax container ships, the largest container vessels calling Australia. The ships can now sail directly into Port Phillip and dock at VICT – the only terminal in Melbourne capable of receiving them. It is also the only fully-automated container terminal in the southern hemisphere.The AUD235 million expansion project is being carried out in two phases.

The Biden-Harris Administration has unveiled a $3 billion initiative to fund clean ports, aimed at reducing emissions and advancing environmental justice. Announced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Clean Ports Program will support the transition to zero-emission operations at ports across the country.The program, part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, includes two grant competitions. The first, the Zero-Emission Technology Deployment Competition, will allocate nearly $2.8 billion to fund zero-emission port equipment and infrastructure.

President Biden on Wednesday signed an Executive Order aiming to strengthen cybersecurity at U.S. ports amid growing threats to America's vital maritime supply chains.The directive bolsters the Department of Homeland Security’s authority to address maritime cyber threats, including through the creation of new standards to ensure the security of networks and systems throughout the nation’s marine transportation system (MTS), which supports $5.4 trillion in economic activity each year."Most critical infrastructure owners and operators have a list of safety regulations they have to comply with…

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) and the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) announced they are surveying port authorities and marine terminal operators to identify national port cargo handling needs over the next five to 10 years.In addition, through interviews with ports and U.S. manufacturers, this effort will assess the interest and capability of American and foreign manufacturers to produce cargo handling equipment and other relevant port equipment in the U.S.

John F. Kennedy’s famous locution, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but you can do for your country” remains the rallying call for civic action and public leadership. The message remains foundational to the success of the United States, particularly as we head into an election year that once again appears to be filled with divisiveness and vitriol. That said, before we flip the calendar, it is important to set JFK’s message aside for a moment and reflect upon what our political leadership in Washington…

On May 5, 2023, the White House announced that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was “taking the next step to invest $3 billion in its Clean Ports Program to fund zero-emission port equipment and technology and to help ports develop climate action plans to reduce air pollutants, improve air quality and public health in neighboring communities, and advance environmental justice.” That “next step” was the issuance of a Request for Information to inform EPA of the availability…

Zero emission is a nice idea, but who’s going to pay for it? The U.S. EPA is readying big money for zero emission ports.The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is working on two high-profile port initiatives that it hopes will move the needle in a big way towards U.S. ports’ zero emissions (ZE) operations and clean air goals.The first initiative started last May when EPA published a request for information and comments that would help the Agency develop Guidance it could use to evaluate funding requests for projects for zero-emission vehicles, port equipment and related infrastructure.

The Biden administration on Friday launched a $4 billion effort to electrify U.S. ports and cut heavy duty truck emissions as the government looks to address disproportionate impacts on nearby communities.The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said it was seeking input in its $3 billion Clean Ports Program to reduce pollutants at U.S. ports and its $1 billion Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicle Program to reduce vehicle emissions near ports and other truck routes. EPA wants details about the availability…

Most of the media coverage of offshore wind development in the United States focuses on the leases of the offshore areas where the wind turbines will be located. However, equally important is the landside dimension of these projects, including the manufacture, installation, maintenance and operation of the turbines. Several awards made in the last two rounds of funding under the Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) show how offshore wind now offers an additional direction of port development for which funding is available.

Kongsberg Maritime on Wednesday announced it has signed a contract with Holland Shipyards Group to provide electrification and control systems with automated functionalities for up to four new all-electric ferries for the Swedish Transport Administration, with two firm for delivery and an option for two more.Kongsberg Maritime said it has been tapped to provide the ferries’ electrical systems, as well as a control system suite, including energy management, navigation, an all-new…

Hydrogen is everywhere. You know that from high school chemistry. And you also know it from Marine News’ almost daily updates about H powered vessel projects around the world.As a fuel that could potentially replace fossil fuels, H is in the spotlight. Perhaps the brightest spotlight, at least in the U.S., is within the Department of Energy’s “Energy Earthshots” initiative.R&D on H was the first such Earthshot announced last year. DOE wants the “Hydrogen Shot” program to “accelerate…

Independent truckers protesting California's new "gig worker" law blockaded California's third-busiest seaport for the third straight day on Friday, delaying shipments at the state's top agricultural export hub and adding to U.S. supply chain headaches.Truck gates at all four Port of Oakland marine terminals remain closed to truck traffic on Friday. Oakland International Container Terminal (OICT), which handles about 70% of port cargo, restarted some work on ships, a port spokesperson said.Oakland port truckers began actions against the law formally known as AB5 on Monday.

A new $1.2 trillion law to improve America’s infrastructure creates an unprecedented opportunity for propane and other low-emission fuels to power on-road and off-road fleets that have historically operated on diesel and gasoline.The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act provides over $9 billion in funding for refueling infrastructure and clean vehicles and equipment, including $5 billion earmarked for ports.Propane is recognized in the Act as an emerging alternative energy source…

Corvus Energy, the large-scale energy storage systems (ESS) provider for marine industry, has been awarded a contract to supply batteries for new fuel-efficient hybrid port cranes to be used by a US port authority to reduce emissions, fuel costs and noise.The contract to supply Corvus Orca Energy Storage Systems (ESS) for 25 new battery-hybrid Rubber Tyre Gantry (RTG) cranes is with CCCC Shanghai Equipment Engineering (CCCCSEE) and ZPMC.The battery-hybrid RTG cranes will be deployed by the South Carolina Port Authority (SCPA), where they are expected to reduce fuel consumption by up to 65% compared to conventional diesel-electric port cranes.CCCCSEE will fit two sets of Corvus battery-based ESSs onto each of 25 RTG cranes manufactured by ZPMC…

NCSP Group, Europe's third largest port operator in terms of cargo turnover,  its subsidiary Novorosleseksport (NLE AO) will receive port equipment from Liebherr-Russland OOO.Dmitry Korchnev, General Director at NLE AO, and German Ignatov, Director of the Port Equipment Department at Liebherr-Russland OOO, signed a contract on purchase of two ship-to-shore cranes (STS) with a capacity of 65 tons for loading and offloading of 20, 30, 40 and 45 feet ISO containers from a vessel to shore and back.The SPS cranes delivery is scheduled for 2021, said a press note.These cranes will ensure the processing of Bosphormax container ships (300 m length, 48.0 m width) at NLE AO berths No.

The port and terminal operator International Container Terminal Services (ICTSI) said that  its flagship Manila International Container Terminal (MICT)  recently took delivery of another new quay crane (QC) and eight new hybrid rubber tired gantries (RTGs).According to a press release, the terminal has the largest fleet of modern container-handling equipment in the Philippines today with 18 QCs and 58 RTGs.Manufactured by Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industry Co. Ltd. (ZPMC), the QC is part of the five from ICTSI’s 2018 USD80-million capacity improvement program package. With a reach of up to 16 rows across twin, the new QC can service the largest feeder vessels calling the Philippines.

North Carolina Ports took delivery of a CM Labs Simulations, developer of Vortex training solutions, port equipment simulator in May. The simulator will run training packs for Reach Stacker and Ship-to-Shore Cranes.North Carolina Ports, with facilities in Morehead City and Wilmington, has one of the highest crane productivity rates on the United States East Coast, with more than 40 moves per hour. In 2018, North Carolina Ports installed two neo-Panamax cranes for increased efficiency, with a third installed in 2019, to accommodate loading and unloading of ultra-large container vessels.In an environment of dynamic terminal development, efficient, cost-effective training becomes increasingly relevant.

MacGregor, part of Cargotec, has received orders to provide linkspans to a customer in Scandinavia and a conversion project for two RoPax ferries operated by a Scandinavian ship-owner.The total order value is approximately EUR 10 million, said a pres release from maritime cargo and load handling service provider.The orders will be booked into Cargotec's second quarter 2019 order intake, with delivery of the MacGregor equipment between the first and third quarters of 2020.MacGregor RoRo provides solutions for a number of segments, two of which are port equipment and vessel conversions."The diversity of our offerings and flexibility to adapt to changing market conditions are important factors for our customers," said Magnus Sjöberg, Senior Vice President, Cargo Handling and RoRo, MacGregor.

Corvus Energy, the manufacturer of energy storage solutions for marine industry, has won an order from CCCC Shanghai Equipment Engineering (CCCCSEE) covering the supply of energy storage systems for battery-hybrid RTG (rubber-tired gantry) cranes.The order is for various retrofit and newbuild deliveries by CCCCSEE affiliate ZPMC in Chinese ports, said a press release from the Canada-based provider of purpose-engineered energy storage solutions for marine, oil & gas and port applicationsCorvus Energy, with primary operations in Vancouver and Bergen (Norway) has previously supplied Energy Storage Systems (ESS) for 48 RTG cranes through CCCCSEE. This is the first order booked by the Corvus Energy Asia office located in Singapore.The benefits of hybrid powered port cranes are substantial.

Japanese shipping major Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) announced that, in partnership with MOL Coastal Shipping, and MOL Information Systems, it will start a demonstration test of a mooring rope with a built-in sensor, along with a rope status monitoring system.The project focuses on the mooring ropes that connect vessels to piers and other port facilities, said a press release from the  international shipping company based in Tokyo, Japan.In general, the tension on mooring ropes is hardly determined in accurate, except at certain ports equipped with tension monitors. So ropes may break because crewmembers do not take effective measures against external forces that are stronger than anticipated due to weather and sea conditions.In addition…

International Container Terminal Services, Inc.'s (ICTSI) flagship Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) has received four of 16 new hybrid rubber-tired gantries (RTG) as part of the Company’s long-term investment in capacity enhancement and environmental efficiency."A first in Philippines and Manufactured by Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. (MES) of Japan, the Mitsui Li-ion Hybrid RTG is equipped with a 200kVA Li-ion battery and a smaller diesel engine that dramatically improves the carbon footprint of the terminal," said a press release from ICTSI.Once fully commissioned, the hybrid RTGs are expected to further boost MICT’s container yard productivity…