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Port of Itapoá to operate South America's first remote control cranes

Port of Itapoa Containers and cranes at Itapoa
Porto Itapoá will be the first port terminal in South America to operate RTGs (Rubber-Tyred Gantry cranes) by remote control.

The acquisition of ten machines for over $25m will increase the agility of the terminal's operations, it said. The first pieces of equipment arrive in May, while the second wave is scheduled for November this year.

The devices will be remotely controlled, according to the director of Port Operations, Technology and Environment at Porto Itapoá, Sergni Pessoa Rosa Jr. “We are already training the operators who will work on these machines and also preparing the room where they will work”, he said. The technology will also provide even more safety and ergonomics for Terminal employees.

The new RTGs have the capacity to stack up to six containers. The equipment is hybrid, with fuel consumption three times lower than a conventional diesel-powered RTG. 

Worldwide, only 27 terminals use remote control RTGs from Chinese manufacturer ZPMC. “We have made substantial investments in technology that make Porto Itapoá one of the most innovative on the continent”, said Rosa Jr.