The Port of Houston Authority in Texas, USA, has placed a repeat order for five Konecranes rubber tyred gantry cranes (RTGs) with Konecranes VLC.
The order is worth approximately $7m and delivery is due in the first quarter of 2004.
The Port of Houston already operates 10 Konecranes RTGs.
After delivery of the five new cranes there will be a total of 125 Konecranes new generation RTGs in operation in North and Central America. Since introduction of the new generation RTG design eight years ago, KCI Konecranes has secured a market share of more than 50% in North America, the company claimed.
“Our long reference list for RTG cranes along with our capability to provide local service support for the cranes through our branch office in Houston were significant factors in winning this order”, said Konecranes VLC managing director Mikko Uhari.
The cranes will be manufactured and erected in Europe and transported by ship to the Barbours Cut terminal in La Porte. The 16 wheel RTGs have a lifting height of 50ft and a span of 74ft. The cranes will initially be one-over-four containers high and six-plus-truck lane wide, and preparation for easy height increase and span adjustment for transfer to Bayport terminal will be applied.
Maintenance and technical support will be provided for through KCI Koneports’ branch office in Houston specialised in harbour crane maintenance.
All features are electromechanical, with no hydraulics involved. Lower emissions will be achieved with state-of-the-art power engine technology, which is in line with the Port of Houston’s high performing environmental standards.
