spotlight: german ports

EFFICIENT ADVANCES

German ports have been introducing new systems with the aim of improving flow and efficiency through facilities at a time when goods handling has been beset with difficulties arising from the pandemic

Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) recently announced a collaborative venture with HERE Technologies to improve truck traffic through the port using the company’s location data and technology platform.

Within the port, digital information boards provide truck drivers with trafficrelevant information to navigate them through the port. With HERE’s Corridor Travel Time-as-a-Service solution, HPA can now provide improved monitoring of the traffic situation on relevant road corridors and manage the flow of traffic. The existing information boards can then also show information on current travel times to key destinations such as cargo transfer points – all without the need for additional hardware in the road sections under consideration.

HERE’s solution is based on vehicle sensor data and utilises services such as HERE Real-Time Traffic and HERE Routeing to provide fresh and flexible travel time information. It is easy to set up via an application programming interface (API) and quick to deploy, minimising development and integration efforts for customers.

Rando Schade from HPA Traffic Management Road comments: “For the first time, we can display exact travel

times in the port, which helps truck drivers to plan their arrival even up to the terminal entrances. Continuous comparisons with alternative routes enable concrete route recommendations and thus early avoidance of traffic jams or to drive around short-term openings of movable bridges. With additional information from the bridge control centres, the route recommendations adapt so that a traffic jam in front of one of the bridges does not even occur.”

“In the current supply chain crisis, the management of traffic within logistics hubs like ports is more critical than ever,” says Patrick Götze, head of transport and logistics Northern Europe at HERE Technologies. “With our Corridor Travel Time-as-a-Service solution we provide HPA a cost-efficient way to stay informed about the current traffic situation and update truck drivers about the travel times to their destination.”

hhla ups konecranes order

Port and transport logistics firm Hamburger Hafen und Logistik (HHLA) has ordered an additional 11 Konecranes Gottwald automated guided vehicles (AGVs) for operations at its Container Terminal Altenwerder (CTA) in Hamburg.

They were ordered under a frame agreement with Konecranes and are part of a long-term project to replace old diesel-electric AGVs with new ones powered by lithium-ion batteries. Delivery is due in early 2023. When they arrive, the total number of Li-ion AGVs on-site will be 95.

Based in Hamburg, HHLA handles containers in seaports and container transport between ports, as well as a broad spectrum of port, consulting and other services. Using advanced technology and a high level of automation, the CTA terminal in Hamburg is the world’s first container facility to be certified climate-neutral.

“This AGV renewal programme is a big part of how we are taking responsibility to protect the environment,” says Thomas Förster, head of terminal technology at CTA. “The transition to purely electric drive technology gives us the opportunity to charge the AGV batteries with electricity from renewable energy sources.”

The 11 Konecranes Gottwald AGVs on order are software-controlled container transporters that travel between the quay cranes and container storage yard. They have an optimised design with low vehicle weight while providing high load capacities.

Their Li-ion batteries provide costeffectiveness combined with low environmental impact. When power storage is low, they replenish their batteries by driving into any one of the 18 automated charging system stations located around the terminal for fast charging.

Expanding capacity

Emission-free operation has also been at the centre of investment by Euroports Germany, which is expanding bulk cargo capacity at the Rostock Overseas Port with the all-electric LPS 420 E portal crane. The machine is equipped with synchronous electric motors and a high-performance energy storage system. There has been a significant shift towards electrified cranes in the maritime industry and Liebherr will be supplying an all-electric portal crane .

All crane movements using the equipment will be carried out using emission-free electric motors as Euroports seeks to expand its bulk handling capacity in Rostock.

The LPS 420 E is equipped with dynamic electric motors and highperformance energy storage systems.

Euroports Germany is the largest port-handling company in the Rostock overseas port and has already invested in two Liebherr cranes for its general cargo terminal in Rostock’s overseas port. The two LHM 550 mobile harbour cranes are the backbone of the handling of wind turbines and allow for increased container handling.

“We want to further strengthen the handling performance at our bulk

terminal. In the coming year, we are not only investing in a new crane to be even more efficient, but we also want to make our contribution to sustainability,” says Karsten Lentz, managing director of the Euroports Germany Group.

“We have opted for a fully electric crane, the LPS 420 E. In future, the crane will be used to handle all types of goods at this terminal. In addition to building materials, this also includes ores, lime, gypsum, wood chips and many more,” adds Lentz.

The all-electric gantry crane is designed for ports and terminals with electric infrastructure. All crane movements such as luffing, lifting, slewing and travelling movements are carried out by means of emissionfree electric motors and are therefore not hydraulic. With an outreach of up to 48m, ships up to post-panamax class can be served. The LPS 420 E has a maximum lifting capacity of up to 124 tonnes and has several decisive technical advantages.

The main components of the electric drive are liquid-cooled and the heat is dissipated via heat exchangers mounted outside the crane. Externally mounted cooling units have the advantage, especially in bulk handling, that no air is brought into the interior of the crane. This keeps dust contamination to a minimum.

Thanks to the Liebherr active frontend frequency converter, deviations in the power supply can be easily compensated for safe and stable operation. The machine is equipped with high-performance power accumulators to reduce the peak load in the crane’s main power supply and to use regenerative energy within the system. In addition, the synchronous electric motors have a low moment of inertia and provide fast response for precise driving characteristics.

Shore power signal

To achieve the goals of its clean air plan and reach an important milestone towards climate neutrality in Hamburg, last year the city’s legislature commissioned Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) to supervise planning and construction of shore-based power facilities at the Burchardkai, Tollerort and Eurogate container terminals, as well as Steinwerder and HafenCity cruise terminals.

In expanding shore power supply, the Port of Hamburg is setting a clear signal of greater protection for the environment, also boosting the port’s attractiveness in terms of the continually growing demand for climate-neutral, environment-friendly logistics chains and ship voyages, the port says.

Sustained investments in the project are being boosted by public funds, as well as the German federal programme for promoting expansion of shore power supply facilities .

Following the successful conclusion of tendering last year, the project has now moves into the implementation stage. Siemens has been selected as prime contractor for Burchardkai and Tollerort container terminals, and PowerCon for the Eurogate container terminal and Steinwerder cruise terminal.

Ship connection systems for the container terminals are being developed by Igus, and for the cruise terminal by Stemmann Technology. All partners in the project have substantial experience in building shore power supply units.

HafenCity Cruise Terminal will be equipped with a shore power unit by 2025. Others are being planned for additional terminals handling vessels of other types. On completion of these, seagoing ships can be supplied with green power in Hamburg.

With the test stage of operation commencing early in 2023, Hamburg will move towards decarbonisation of the port, years ahead of the EU regulation foreseen for 2030.

Along with the other North Range ports – Antwerp, Bremerhaven, Rotterdam, Le Havre – Hamburg has set itself still more ambitious targets for contributing towards sustainable logistics chains.

HPA aims to offer innovative – and especially environment-aware shipping companies – climate-neutral and pollutant-free laytime from 2023 onwards. It is therefore inviting market players work with it on possible utilisation of the shore power supply infrastructure.

This will enable HPA to join potential customers in developing and establishing innovative energy solutions, and ensuring that this new facility meets the requirements of future users as comprehensively as possible.

HPA STARTS CONSTRUCTION OF ADDITIONAL SHORE POWER FACILITIES PLUS KNOWHOW EXCHANGE