BCT Gdynia handling capacity by 50%
Kalmar and Baltic Container Terminal Ltd (BCT) in Gdynia, Poland, have signed an agreement under which Kalmar is to increase the height of the eight Kalmar rubber-tyred gantry cranes (RTGs) currently in operation. This modification will raise the lifting capacity of the cranes from 1 over 3 to 1 over 5 containers and increase BCT handling capacity from an annual 400,000TEU to 600,000TEU. As part of its expansion plans, BCT has also placed an order for four new Kalmar 5+1 wide RTGs capable of lifting 1 over 5 containers high.
BCT Gdynia urgently needed to increase its container handling capacity and crane heightening proved to be the fastest and most cost-effective way to go about it, especially considering that the machines are reasonably new and still in excellent condition, says Kari Ronkainen, General Manager, Parts and Projects:
“Finding the right approach required a lot of technical research and planning for Kalmar.
Explains Kari Ronkainen, General Manager, Parts and Projects:
“It is a solution that will be valuable for many terminals where physical grounds cannot be extended and the only possible direction for growth is upwards. By extending the container stacking height, capacity can be increased considerably.
“Following completion of this project we intend to offer the same solution to other customers. The BCT reference, our latest RTG design and our engineering knowledge and experience all combine to put us in a very strong position.
BCT Gdynia acquired its Kalmar RTG cranes over a period of years, with the oldest machines dating back to the early 1990s.
Kalmar will supply the technical calculations, electricity and PLC programmes and documentation as well as the materials needed for the rebuild. The customer will perform the installation under Kalmar supervision. The work begins at Gdynia in late May and should be completed by October.
The BCT project is extensive as the machines will be dismantled and then re-assembled with the new parts. The schedule is tight, but it has been agreed that the customer will be able to continue daily operations with minimal disturbance.
Gdynia, which is 100%-owned by International Container Terminal Services, Inc (ICTSI), handles the vast majority of Poland containerised, general, ro-ro and lo-lo cargo. Occupying 60 hectares and with 800 metres berth, the terminal annual capacity currently stands at 400,000TEU.
Notes to editors:
Kalmar is a global provider of heavy duty materials handling equipment and services to ports, intermodal traffic, terminals and demanding industrial customers. Kalmar focuses on supplying handling solutions that enable customers to operate with a high level of efficiency and reliability. Every fourth container or trailer transfer at terminals around the world is handled by a Kalmar machine.
Kalmar provides a large range of value added services such as maintenance contracts and fleet management. Manufacturing plants are situated in Sweden (as is the head office), in Finland, the Netherlands, Estonia, Malaysia, China and the USA.