CRANEs and grabs
17
SEIZING THE ADVANTAGE Investment in crane and grab systems has continued this year with an emphasis on putting in place equipment that will be eco-friendly as well as efficient
A
ssociated British Ports (ABP) will further reduce its carbon emissions, as two of the very first fully mains-electric powered hydraulic cranes arrive at the Port of Ipswich. These cranes are among the first of their kind in the UK and are the latest in a series of bold investments in sustainable measures from ABP that have contributed to a 36% decrease in greenhouse gas emissions since 2014. The cranes, Mantsinen model 95ER, have been configured around specific workings of the operations at the Port of Ipswich to optimise efficiencies and further reduce energy consumption. It is estimated that these two electric cranes will save up to 5,275 tonnes of CO2 over their lifetime. To provide perspective, one tonne of CO2 is equivalent to driving a car once around the world (circa 23,000 miles). ABP has partnered with provider Cooper Specialised Handling in this pioneering agreement to invest in these multi-million-pound, state-ofthe-art cranes that can be powered by the solar energy generated at the port itself. The port already has 4,000 solar rooftop solar arrays and has invested in an onsite sub-station to futureproof
sustainable portside operations that can accommodate up to four electric powered cranes. The port has also invested in electric vans to minimise the impact of port operations on the environment. The two cranes will be able to manage a range of material received in the East Anglian port, which handles more than two million tonnes of cargo each year and is the UK’s leading grain export port. Not only will this initiative improve ABP’s green credentials, reducing the port’s CO2 emissions and decreasing energy consumption by up to 40%, but will also allow for quieter operations and improved air quality. Paul Ager, divisional port manager says: “ABP is really committed to reducing the greenhouse gas emissions arising from port activity. This £4m investment at the port is the latest development in ABP’s carbon reduction goals tailored to its operations. “The transition to electric machines will not only improve ABP’s cargo handling service to its customers but will also feed into ABP’s wider policy to reduce CO2 emissions all the way down to zero.”
liebherr’s higher level
French crane contractor Soliman has taken delivery of a new Liebherr LTM 1230-5.1 mobile crane. The higher lifting capacities of the powerful, versatile fiveaxle crane compared with other models in the same crane class, together with its particularly long boom, were just some of the criteria that made up the company’s mind to buy the new crane.
HANDOVER OF THE LTM 1230- 5.1 TO SOLIMAN LEFT TO RIGHT: ENZO GIGANTE, GIUSEPPE GIGANTE (BOTH FROM SOLIMAN) AND GUILLAUME GAENG (LIEBHERR GRUES MOBILES).
One of the factors that persuaded the company to buy the Liebherr 5-axle model was its high resale value on the secondhand market. Soliman is also impressed with the reliability of Liebherr cranes: “We chose Liebherr when we decided to develop our fleet as a result of the reliability of Liebherr cranes and
BULK TERMINALS
international | SUMMER 2022
