Brazil’s first private container terminal, Portonave, has ordered 14 fully electric rubber-tyred gantry cranes (RTGs) from Konecranes, the first order the southern Brazilian terminal has placed with the manufacturer.

Delivery of the RTGs is expected in mid-2026, Konecranes says.

Portonave handles approximately 1.2 million TEUs and in 2024, achieved the highest vessel productivity among all Brazilian ports, according to Konecranes. It has been in operation since 2007.

The Finnish materials handling equipment producer explains the RTGs are battery-driven with charging applied dynamically through a busbar system, which allows for “zero tailpipe operation, as there is no need for auxiliary diesel gensets”. 

This means the RTGs will continue to operate uninterrupted in the event of a power outage with each able to operate for four hours on the batteries.

They will also include a suite of smart features including collision prevention, auto reporting and truck guidance as well as gantry collision prevention.

Alfredo Ramirez, regional sales director, Port Solutions, Konecranes says: “There’s plenty of room to reduce emissions in Brazilian container handling operations, at the seaside, inland, everywhere. Portonave is a great example of how it’s possible to achieve zero tailpipe emissions, step by step,” Ramirez continues.