The Port of Houston Authority in Texas, USA, placed a repeat order for seven Konecranes Rubber Tired Gantry Cranes (RTG) with Konecranes VLC. The order is worth over USD 10 million. Delivery is due in April 2005.
The Port of Houston Authority, one of America's top container terminals, is currently operating 15 Konecranes RTG's. "The seven new ones will help us to provide even faster turnaround for container vessels visiting the Barbour's Cut terminal where the fast growth in container traffic continues", said Executive Director Tom Kornegay, Port of Houston Authority. "The new ordered RTG cranes will later be moved to the new Bayport Terminal."
The cranes will be manufactured and erected in Europe and transported on ship to the Barbour's Cut terminal in La Porte. After delivery of these seven cranes there will be totally 114 Konecranes new generation RTG's in operation in USA.
"Konecranes RTGs have proven their success in terms of environmental considerations combined with high performance capacity and fast delivery. These have been real strengths in winning recent orders", said Tuomas Saastamoinen, Sales manager, Container Handling, Konecranes VLC. "Providing local support for the RTGs through our harbour crane service experts from KCI Koneports has also become a competitive asset for us".
The 16 wheel RTG's have a lifting height of 50 feet and a span of 74 feet (one-over-four containers high and six-plus-truck lane wide). The cranes are prepared for easy height increase and span adjustment to later fit the needs at the Bayport terminal. The RTG's boast operational and environmental advantages consistent with Port of Houston's high standards. Handling efficiency is achieved by high hoist speed and with modern features, such as Sway Prevention, Fine Positioning Systems etc. Lower emissions will be achieved by utilizing state-of-the-art power engine and exhaust gas handling technology. Sophisticated silencers will be installed for significantly lower noise levels.
All features are electromechanical, with no hydraulics involved. KCI Konecranes' own AC Frequency Control System composes the most modern and reliable drive for the RTG's. Eliminating the hydraulic systems (except in the spreader) and utilizing AC drives significantly reduces the maintenance costs of the RTG's.
Further information can be obtained from
Konecranes VLC Oy
Tuomas Saastamoinen, Sales Manager, Container Handling
Email: tuomas.saastamoinen@konecranes.com
Phone +358 20 427 2662, Fax: +358 20 427 2599
This press release together with a downloadable high-resolution picture is available at our web site www.konecranes.com at "Latest News".
Konecranes VLC is part of the KCI Konecranes Group's Special Cranes Business Area and specialises in port, terminal and shipyard cranes.
KCI Konecranes, headquartered in Hyvinkää, Finland is a world leading Engineering Group specialising in advanced overhead lifting solutions and maintenance services. KCI Konecranes is the world's leading supplier of heavy-duty cranes for process industries. KCI Konecranes is a global supplier of special harbour cranes for bulk materials and containers and a leading provider of shipyard cranes. In 2003, Group sales totalled EUR 665 million with 4300 employees in 34 countries all over the world.
The Port of Houston Authority owns and operates the public facilities located along the Port of Houston, the 25-mile long complex of diversified public and private facilities designed for handling general cargo, containers, grain and other dry bulk materials, project and heavy lift cargo, and other types of cargo. Each year, more than 6,600 vessels call at the port, which ranks first in the U.S. in foreign waterborne tonnage, second in overall total tonnage, and sixth largest in the world. The Port Authority plays a vital role in ensuring navigational safety along the Houston Ship Channel, which has been instrumental in Houston's development as a center of international trade. The Barbours Cut Container Terminal and Central Maintenance Facility are the first of any U.S. port facilities to develop and implement an innovative Environmental Management System that meets the rigorous standards of ISO 14001. Additionally, the port is an approved delivery point for Coffee "C" futures contracts traded on the New York Board of Trade's Coffee, sugar & Cocoa Exchange. For more information, please visit www.portofhouston.com.
