New Straddle Carriers for MSC Terminal in Antwerp

Kalmar, part of Cargotec, has gained an order to supply five Kalmar electric straddle carriers for MSC Home Terminal in Antwerp, Belgium. In addition, Kalmar will supply one new generation hybrid straddle carrier to the customer on a rental basis.

 
The agreement was signed in August 2013 and the new units will be delivered in February 2014. The parties have agreed not to disclose the value of the order. The order has been booked into Cargotec's 2013 third quarter order intake.

 
MSC Home Terminal is a 50/50 joint venture between PSA and TIL. It is the largest container terminal in the port of Antwerp and the most important European hub for MSC, the second largest shipping company in the world. Opened in June 2005, the terminal handles 4.6 million TEU  annually, more than half of the total container throughput in the port of Antwerp. The terminal runs an existing straddle carrier operation and the new Kalmar units will replace old machinery.

 
The hybrid straddle carrier represents Kalmar's new generation technology introduced to the global market on 9 October 2013. The hybrid system can deliver a remarkable 40% decrease in fuel consumption compared to existing machines on the market. This not only adds up to significant cost savings for the terminal, but also improves the sustainability of operations.

 
Randy Verresen, Technical Manager at MSC Home Terminals said: "By opting for the Kalmar hybrid straddle carrier, we wanted to choose latest technology to cut operating costs and reduce CO2 emissions at the terminal. We believe in Kalmar straddle technology and see the new hybrid machines as a great opportunity for the future."
 

Existing Kalmar equipment at the terminal include 21 ship-to-shore cranes and 60 straddle carriers, representing half of the terminal's straddle carrier fleet. Earlier this year, Kalmar completed the heightening of six ship-to-shore cranes at the terminal.