Cargotec's long-time Colombian customers have ordered the first Kalmar STS cranes to operate in South America.

Cargotec has received a EUR40 million (USD54.7 million) order from long-time Colombian customer Sociedad Portuaria Regional de Cartagena for two Kalmar ship-to-shore (STS) cranes and 24 Kalmar rubber-tyred gantry (RTG) cranes.

These will be the first Kalmar STS cranes and Kalmar zero-emission E-One2 RTG cranes operating in South America. Delivery of the equipment will be completed in the second quarter of 2012.

Cargotec managing director for Latin America Dan House says Sociedad Portuaria Regional de Cartagena is a leading South American terminal operator currently operating with one of the largest Kalmar RTG fleets globally.

"This provided further reassurance that Cargotec would deliver the same high level of performance and technology with its Kalmar STS cranes. The order is a great milestone for Cargotec's growing business in South America," House explains.

The two Kalmar STS cranes feature optimised hoisting speeds that require minimal energy consumption while the 24 Kalmar E-One2 RTG cranes will receive electrical energy from an automated busbar connection.

The Port of Cartagena is currently expanding its capacity to accommodate an annual throughput of 4.5 million TEUs. It has been named best port of the Caribbean five times by the Caribbean Shipping Association.