Georgia Ports Authority Goes Electric

The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA), is in the process of converting all of its ship-to-shore cranes to electricity. The $4.7 million conversion project will be complete by the end of calendar year 2003.

The conversion, which is already 50 percent complete, will reduce environmental emissions from the high sulfur diesel fuel by 415,658 lbs / yr. The GPA will also be reducing the possibility of environmental hazards due to diesel and coolant spills. Additional benefits of electrification will come in the form of safety and cost-savings.

Conversion of the ship-to-shore cranes involves removing the existing diesel engine and installing a new medium-voltage transformer that converts the 13,800-volt feed down to 480 volts.

The conversion also includes installing a medium voltage diesel disconnect, a low-voltage breaker stack, associated wiring and a new cable reel that is eight meters in diameter.