Gottwald harbour crane for UK port

The Port of Blyth, one of the UK’s leading offshore energy support bases, has ordered an eco-efficient Konecranes Gottwald ESP.6 Mobile Harbor Crane for the newly refurbished Bates Clean Energy Terminal in the North East of England. Booked in October 2021, the crane is scheduled for fully erected delivery in April 2022 and will be the first Generation 6 crane to be delivered to the UK.

Gottwald ESP.6 Mobile Harbor Crane

The crane is a Konecranes Gottwald ESP.6 Mobile Harbor Crane supplied with a working radius of 49 m and a capacity of 125 t. According to Konecranes, its long reach, high working speeds and strong lifting capacity chart will add efficiency and precision to the delivery of large offshore wind farm components and high value project cargo while improving the environmental credentials of the port.

The Port of Blyth handles a wide range of cargo across three major terminals, with a key focus on supporting internationally significant projects and mobilisations in the offshore energy sector. Positioned midway between Aberdeen and Great Yarmouth, the Port is home to a mature supply chain of offshore energy related businesses and is considered a one stop shop for all energy related activities carried out in the North Sea. The Port also supports transportation of a whole range of goods and materials and facilitates a twice weekly container service from Europe.

Eco credentials

The Generation 6 Konecranes Gottwald Mobile Harbor Crane is equipped with an external power supply, with efficiency increasing when connected to the harbour mains. Konecranes said the crane eliminates local carbon emissions and keeps noise levels at a minimum.

A smart power management system recovers energy from braking and lowering movements which can then be re-used by other crane functions or, alternatively, fed back into the harbour mains, as needed. The crane also has an onboard diesel generator for situations when it needs to be operated without connection to the mains.

Decarbonisation solution

“With a key focus on delivering an ambitious decarbonisation strategy over the coming years, we were looking for a solution to help us achieve that goal,” said Alan Todd, port director at the Port of Blyth. “We are keen to put Konecranes’ renowned and innovative eco-efficient electric drives to good use. Our recently modernised quay at our flagship Bates Clean Energy Terminal now has mains access, so the crane can operate fully on electricity. Their ESP.6 mobile harbour crane suits our requirements perfectly.”

“This is the first mobile harbour crane that Blyth have purchased from Konecranes,” said Jon Haden, business development manager for Konecranes Port Solutions. “We’re delighted that our industry-leading experience with electric drive systems has enabled us to provide exactly the right solution for their needs. We are sure that this Generation 6 crane will deliver both productivity and increased sustainability to the Port of Blyth and go a long way in supporting their clearly stated environmental goals.”

This contract is part of Konecranes’ Ecolifting initiative designed to increase its beneficial environmental impact. The initiative is wide ranging and includes everything from eco-optimising diesel drives to hybridisation and fully-electrified fleets.