Puerto Coronel has become the first port in Chile to incorporate zero-emission electric forklift cranes into its operations.
Puerto Coronel says it is the first port in Chile to utilise electric forklift cranes. Credit: Puerto Coronel
The port purchased the forklift cranes with minimum noise generation to mark the beginning of its Puerto Verde programme, that aims to progressively incorporate electric equipment and increase the use of more environmentally friendly technologies. The three Linde High Lift e50L cranes will allow a saving of 80% in energy compared to the port’s existing cranes.
“We started this year with three cranes. I hope that by the end of the year we can double that park, and two or three years from now, I hope 100% of the 5 ton cranes are electric. The 7 tons are just coming to the market, we have to do the tests and possibly by the end of the year we can incorporate at least one and with that we can start modifying our plant to this type of equipment,” said Javier Anwandter, general manager of Puerto Coronel.
Lithium-ion battery
Each crane can load up to 5t and has a long-life lithium-ion battery, which in normal operating conditions lasts up to eight hours. They can complete the process of loading in three hours, said Puerto Coronel.
The port received two STS cranes last February. This allowed the replacement of two mobile oil cranes. The port said this enabled it to become the first in the Biobío region to operate a container dock with electric power.
Source: GREENPORT