Klaipėda: One Port, Three E-Cranes, Three Customers

At a glance: Three Klaipeda customers are using E-Crane technology for scrap, bulk, general and packaged cargo. Across the projects, flexibility, energy efficiency, reliability and total cost of ownership are recurring themes.

 

Klaipeda has a long maritime history dating back to the 13th century. Over the centuries, the city and its port developed from a fortified trading centre into an important industrial and maritime hub. Timber was a major cargo at the beginning of the 20th century, while later decades brought mineral, cellulose, fishing and shipbuilding activities to the port. Today, the Port of Klaipeda is the most northerly ice-free port in the eastern Baltic Sea. Recent investments in port infrastructure and deeper navigation channels have enabled the port to accommodate vessels of up to 400m in length, with draughts of up to 14.3m. Larger vessels and growing cargo flows naturally increase the need for efficient, high-capacity and flexible handling equipment.

 

Against this backdrop, three companies in Klaipeda have selected E-Crane technology for demanding cargo-handling applications. Vakaru Krova, Klasco and Kaminera each have different operational requirements, but their projects share a common objective: reliable and efficient cargo handling with equipment that can adapt to the realities of modern port operations.

 

 

 

Vakaru Krova, a subsidiary of the Western Shipyard Group, was the first company in Klaipeda to purchase an E-Crane. The company operates four specialised terminals within the Port of Klaipeda. Its E-Crane, an EH12421 GA-E, is designed to optimise terminal capacity and is used for loading scrap, handling bulk and loose materials, and moving general and packaged cargo such as roundwood. To provide flexibility between different applications, the crane is equipped with an orange-peel grab, clamshell grab and hook. A quick-change system allows attachments to be exchanged within minutes. Vakaru Krova has also implemented a rail-mounted E-Crane solution based on the 1800C platform. By allowing the crane to travel directly along the quay, the equipment can serve multiple cargo holds consecutively. This supports faster vessel operations and helps maximise terminal throughput.

 

Klasco (Klaipeda Stevedoring Company), one of the larger stevedoring companies in the Baltic States, installed a new E-Crane at one of its scrap terminals. The crane has a 42-metre reach and a 450 kW electric motor, providing the capacity required for demanding heavy-duty cargo handling. Klasco was looking for a new crane for its scrap terminal when the company learned about E-Crane through positive feedback from other customers. Following visits to E-Crane installations elsewhere in Europe, Klasco selected the E-Crane solution. According to the source material, the decision was influenced by total cost of ownership, reliability and ease of operation compared with rope cranes. The available quay power is 400 V, making the crane’s low energy consumption another important advantage. The new machine is primarily used for scrap handling, while a clamshell grab also enables the handling of heavy bulk materials. For Klasco, the combination of reliable performance, low energy consumption and operational simplicity supports the terminal’s day-to-day requirements while keeping a close focus on operating costs.

 

Kaminera Group presented E-Crane with a different challenge. The recently completed rail-mounted E-Crane had to operate on a track incorporating a significant S-curve: two bends in opposite directions. Standard rail-mounted cranes are normally designed to travel along straight quay rails, so the track configuration required additional engineering. Following detailed measurements, E-Crane developed pivoting wheel assemblies and modified the drive system to accommodate the curved rail track.

 

The result was smooth operation and a successful test run. Following commissioning, particular attention has been given to training the crane operators and technical team, supported by experienced E-Crane engineers. The project illustrates how a standard E-Crane platform can be adapted when site-specific conditions demand a tailored engineering solution. It also marks the start of a long-term partnership focused on the safe and efficient handling of scrap and other bulk materials.

 

 

All three Klaipeda projects feature the E-Crane 1800C series. Positioned in the mid-range of the E-Crane portfolio, the 1800C can be supplied with an outreach ranging from 31.7 to 42.1 metres, making it suitable for handling cargo on vessels up to Panamax size. The 1800C series is equipped with a 450 kW electric motor and E-Crane’s EMM system. The system enables communication with port management and provides information on capacity, status and other relevant operational data. A recurring theme across the three Klaipeda projects is the importance of total cost of ownership and energy efficiency. The E-Crane balance principle contributes to low energy consumption, while the electric drive supports the requirements of modern port terminals seeking efficient and reliable equipment.

 

The three installations in Klaipeda demonstrate how the same E-Crane technology can address very different operational challenges. Vakaru Krova uses its equipment for flexible multi-cargo handling and improved quay utilisation. Klasco focuses on scrap handling with an emphasis on reliability, energy consumption and total cost of ownership. Kaminera required a customised rail solution capable of negotiating an unusual S-curve.

Together, the projects show the versatility of E-Crane technology in a busy Baltic port environment. As Klaipeda continues to develop its infrastructure and accommodate larger vessels, efficient cargo-handling solutions will remain an important part of the port’s ability to serve customers safely, reliably and productively.