SeaPort Manatee will bring extra capacity to general cargo and container handling at its operations in Tampa Bay, Florida with two Konecranes Gottwald ESP.7 mobile harbour cranes. After it ordered the first crane in Q1 2024, the port quickly decided to take a second optional crane at the beginning of Q2 to keep up with fast-growing demand. Both cranes will be delivered by the end of the year.
SeaPort Manatee, the closest US deepwater seaport to the expanded Panama Canal, is investing in new equipment to manage anticipated strong growth in container and general cargo traffic. With four Konecranes mobile harbour cranes already on site, the port ordered two more that will offer the ability to run both with electricity from the harbour main, meaning a significant reduction in emissions and a higher efficiency.
“These two new Konecranes Gottwald mobile harbour cranes will not only help SeaPort Manatee accommodate its growing container business, but their electric drive design will also contribute to the port’s strong commitment to reducing emissions. Both the Florida Department of Transportation and the port’s loyal customers appreciate this dedication to sustainability and the entire community will benefit,” said Carlos Buqueras, SeaPort Manatee’s executive director.
“We’ve been proud to work with SeaPort Manatee over the last two decades as they’ve cemented a key role in the economy of Florida. This order is a good example of the interest our Generation 6 cranes are developing across the market with their high performance, outstanding reliability and impressive eco-efficiency,” says Alan Garcia, Sales Director, Port Solutions, Konecranes.
The order is for two Konecranes Gottwald ESP.7 mobile harbour cranes, with a working radius of up to 51m and a maximum capacity of 125t to serve container ships up to post-Panamax class. Strong lifting capacity curves, improved handling rates and a high classification ensure a long service life. When connected to the harbor mains by cable reel, it eliminates local exhaust emissions and collects lowering and braking energy in ultracapacitors. For unplugged operation, the crane is powered by a smart hybrid drive combining a fuel-optimized diesel generator with the ultracapacitors that provide additional power for heavy lifts.
For deeper insights, SeaPort Manatee will use TRUCONNECT® remote monitoring to collect usage data, which is sent via secure mobile connection to the yourKONECRANES customer portal. There it gets a full overview of its Konecranes equipment, with detailed information about fuel consumption, carbon emissions and handling performance.
POWERED BY ECOLIFTING
This contract is part of Ecolifting™, Konecranes’ vision to increase its handprint — meaning the beneficial environmental impact that can be achieved with its product and service portfolio — while reducing customers’ carbon footprints. From eco-optimizing diesel drives, to hybridization and fully-electrified fleets, Konecranes will continue to do more with less.
A strong focus on customers and commitment to business growth and continuous improvement put Konecranes at the forefront of the material handling industry. This is underpinned by invest ments in digitalization and technology, plus the company’s work to make material flows more efficient with solutions that decarbonize the economy and advance circularity and safety.
ABOUT KONECRANES
Konecranes is a global expert in material handling solutions, serving a broad range of customers across multiple industries. The company consistently sets the industry benchmark, from everyday improvements to the breakthroughs at moments that matter most, because it knows it can always find a safer, more productive and sustainable way. That’s why, with around 16,600 professionals in over 50 countries, Konecranes is trusted every day to lift, handle and move what the world needs. In 2023, Group sales totalled €4.0 billion.