Port of Wilmington to get new cargo equipment to increase productivity

The Port of Wilmington, Del., is modernizing with fully electric and eco-friendly cargo handling equipment from KoneCranes Inc.

GT USA Wilmington, the U.S. arm of Gulftainer, one of the world’s largest, privately owned, independent ports and logistics companies, purchased the new equipment, which includes nine 41-ton Rubber Tired Gantry cranes and three 45-ton Reach Stackers, according to a news release.

“This equipment forms the first part of $100 million to be invested in the first year of a total $500 plus million investment,” Eric Casey, CEO of GT USA Wilmington, said in the release. “It will be introduced in a phased manner throughout 2019, significantly strengthening operational efficiency and increasing overall productivity at the port.”

In line with GT’s sustainability goals, and marking a first for both GT and KoneCranes, the RTGs and RAM spreaders are all-electric, which eliminate exhaust emissions from conventional diesel generators and risk of oil contamination, according to the release.

Battery packs will replace auxiliary generators, which also eliminates exhaust emissions. The RTGs can create stacks five high and seven rows wide, plus a truck lane to increase yard stacking capacity. The Reach Stackers can stack containers five high.

“This new equipment underlines our obligation to further strengthen our operations at the terminal,” Casey said in the release.