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Port of San Diego receives North America's first electric harbour cranes

The Port of San Diego's has received two new all-electric Gottwald Generation 6 mobile harbour cranes that were delivered to Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal (TAMT), the first of their kind in North America.

Michele Labrut, Americas Correspondent

July 20, 2023

1 Min Read
Port of San Diego Electric Cranes
Photo: Port of San Diego

"These all-electric mobile harbour cranes are a game changer for public health, the environment and our regional economy. It's win, win, win. By replacing our diesel-powered cargo handling equipment with electric equipment, such as these cranes, we continue to ensure that the air in and around the terminal is cleaner to breathe, reduce our environmental impacts and fulfil our responsibility to support commerce and jobs. in our region," said Chairman Rafael Castellanos of the Board of Harbour Commissioners of the Port of San Diego.

The cranes are expected to be operational later this year.

The Port of Diego ordered battery-electric cranes from Konecranes for approximately $14 million and spent an additional $8.9 million to make the necessary electrical infrastructure improvements to support the cranes, which included $2.7 million in grants from the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District.

The cranes will represent the highest lifting capacity of any crane system currently on the West Coast, up to 400 metric tonnes (MT) compared to the 100 MT lifting capacity of the previous diesel crane.

Most of the heavy loads destined for this region weigh more than 200 MT, including larger pieces of solar, wind and industrial power equipment, as well as project cargoes.

Related:Wilson Sons invests in electric port equipment for Salvador container terminal

TAMT operates as an omni-directional cargo terminal consisting of a 38.85-hectare facility and handles breakbulk, bulk, container, and project cargoes for solar, wind and hydroelectric power facilities, steel and engines used in local shipbuilding, as well as private yachts, refrigerated cargo, sodium carbonate, sugar, reams of paper and more.

About the Author

Michele Labrut

Americas Correspondent

Michèle Labrut is a long-time Panama resident, a journalist and correspondent, and has continuously covered the maritime sector of Central & Latin America.

Michèle first came to Panama as a press attaché to the French Embassy and then returned to the isthmus as a foreign correspondent in the 1980s.

Author of Seatrade Maritime's annual Panama Maritime Review magazine and of several books, Michèle also wrote for Time magazine, The Miami Herald, NBC News and the Economist Intelligence Unit. She has also collaborated in making several documentaries for the BBC and European and U.S. television networks.

Michèle's profession necessitates a profound knowledge of the country, but her acumen is not from necessity alone, but a genuine passion for Panama.

In 2012 she was awarded the Order of Merit (Knight grade) by the French Government for her services to international journalism and in 2021 the upgrade to Chevalier grade.

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