APM Terminals has concluded a contract with Finnish-based container handling equipment manufacturer Kalmar for the delivery of 19 Hybrid Straddle Carriers for the new 800,000 TEU annual capacity deepwater APM Terminals Vado facility now under construction on northern Italy’s Ligurian Coast. The facility will be the world’s first container terminal to employ an entirely hybrid straddle carrier fleet. The advanced regenerative energy system designed for the hybrid (diesel-electric) straddle carriers converts energy from operational braking and lowering of the spreader into electric power which is then captured and stored through new and innovative battery technology. An automated computer-assisted power system determines the most efficient balance between the diesel engine and battery power.
“The enhanced hybrid power will result in an estimated 30% reduction in fuel consumption, as well as a reduction of an estimated 50 tons of CO2 annually per unit, compared with conventional diesel/electric-powered straddle carriers”, noted APM Terminals Vado, Managing Director Carlo Merli.
The Port of Vado is located in northwestern Italy in the Region of Savona, near the major Italian commercial and population center of Genoa. In February of 2008, the Port Authority of Savona-Vado signed a concession agreement with APM Terminals and its local partners for the development, construction and operation of a new container terminal, the first major new container facility to be built in Italy in several decades. The deepwater Vado container terminal is scheduled to become operational in January 2018 with the ability to handle 18,000 TEU vessels.
In August 2015, APM Terminals assumed control of the existing Vado Ligure Reefer Terminal as part of the port master plan to create new supply chain capabilities for markets in Northern Italy, Southern France, Switzerland and Germany. Operations at the two facilities will be merged after the new container terminal is completed.
“Environmental sustainability and optimized productivity are priorities for both operations and equipment selection in APM Terminals Vado,” added Mr. Merli.