Europea Servizi Terminalistici (EST), a subsidiary of the Italian Shipping & Logistics Agency (ISLA) which recently won a 25-year concession to operate the new container terminal in the port of Augusta, has ordered a new mobile harbour crane for the terminal. EST says the crane will, among other things, enable the company “to meet the needs of the growing offshore wind industry in the Mediterranean.”
The new crane is a Konecranes Gottwald ESP.8 hybrid-drive Mobile Harbour Crane with a lifting capacity of 150 tonnes, which is expected to be delivered by the end of the summer.
Equipped with a 5.3-metre tower extension and 65-tonne twin-lift spreaders, the crane will enhance EST’s ability to handle containers and specialised heavy cargo, such as wind energy components, the company says.
The hybrid drive of the new crane combines a diesel engine with two ultracapacitors to reduce fuel consumption and tailpipe emissions. The crane is also prepared for an external power supply, enabling full electrification and zero onsite tailpipe emissions once the necessary infrastructure is in place at the Port of Augusta, according to EST.
“As we scale up operations in Augusta, we’re focused on immediate efficiency gains while preparing for a fully electric future. This first investment in Konecranes hybrid equipment is perfectly aligned with our journey, enabling us to take on more complex cargo in a sustainable manner and to meet the increasing demand for our services, especially from the growing offshore wind industry in the Mediterranean”, said Pietro B. Coniglio , Managing Director of EST and ISLA.
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The company says it will continue to develop the infrastructure in Augusta to meet the specific needs of the offshore wind industry.
“The potential of Sicily, and particularly the Port of Augusta, for developing the Mediterranean offshore wind industry is enormous. The geographical location is ideal to serve as a central hub for a large number of projects, especially in conjunction with our other port and storage facilities throughout Sicily and mainland Italy”, said Coniglio .