Port Nelson in New Zealand has welcomed an LHM600E crane, advancing its 2030 sustainability goals with support from a government fund.
LHM600E arriving at Port Nelson © Port Nelson / Screenshot / Faceebook
Port Nelson in New Zealand’s South Island has welcomed a new “electric dual-drive mobile harbour crane”, a Liebherr LHM600E, making a significant step towards sustainable port operations. The crane and related electrical infrastructure represent an investment of NZ$ 17m (US$ 10m). The port received NZ$ 500,000 in co-funding from the Government’s Low Emission Transport Fund, administered by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA).
Standing at 52.8m and weighing approximately 640t, the crane features a maximum radius of 61m and is expected to serve the port for 15 years. It was purchased to replace ageing equipment and aligns with Port Nelson’s 2030 strategy for sustainable growth. Liebherr’s E-Drive option features two electric motors that allow the crane to be powered by electricity from the grid.
Port Nelson’s CEO, Hugh Morrison, highlighted the crane’s environmental and operational benefits. “This will result in significant emissions reductions and a quieter port environment, as electric operations are substantially quieter than diesel. Electric operation supports Port Nelson’s noise management goals and is a cost-effective solution that will lead to lower operational costs over both the short and long term,” Morrison said. He noted that the crane is expected to operate in electric mode for up to 85% of the time.
Cranes account for approximately 22% of Port Nelson’s Scope 1 emissions, and the electric capabilities of the new crane are expected to make a meaningful contribution to the port’s emissions reduction targets.
The port’s LHM600E crane is also equipped with a diesel engine that can be used when necessary. The diesel engine room features complete acoustic treatment to minimise noise impact during its operation. “The crane, which can seamlessly switch to diesel when necessary, will perform comparably to traditional diesel-driven cranes but with substantial benefits in efficiency, emissions, and noise reduction,” the port stated.
“As the country’s first electric dual-drive harbour crane, showing how it can be integrated into daily operations will give confidence to the wider industry to consider adopting similar technology as part of overall goals to improve energy efficiency, increase productivity, and ultimately save on operating costs,” Richard Briggs, EECA Group Manager of Delivery and Partnerships, said.
In the North Island, the EECA has awarded the Port of Napier a NZ$ 500,000 grant towards the purchase of two “new generation” mobile harbour cranes. Napier operates a fleet of MHCs from Konecranes.
Back in Nelson, approximately NZ$ 2m of the project cost has been invested into the local economy as part of this initiative. “While the crane was purchased directly from Liebherr, we have made sure to source any additional parts, as well as labour and materials for upgrading infrastructure, locally,” Morrison added.
In addition to the new crane, Port Nelson is retrofitting one of its older LHM 600 cranes with Liebherr’s two-motor e-drive system, which is being supplied from Rostock. This conversion project is also supported by EECA, which provided additional co-funding of NZ$ 375,000.
source: www.worldcargonews.com
