The Port of Houston Authority (PHA) has awarded an USD10.19 million contract to Konecranes VLC Corp for seven diesel-electric container yard cranes.
The PHA, based in Houston, Texas, will use the rubber-tyred gantry cranes (RTGs) at its Barbours Cut container terminal in La Porte, Texas, and at its planned Bayport container facility.
Each 16-wheel RTG has a lifting height of 50 feet (15 metres) and a span of 74 feet (22.2 metres).
Delivery to the PHA is scheduled for April, 2005. The order reinforces Konecranes' presence in the US and will bring the number of its new-generation RTGs in operation there to 114.
"The seven new machines will help us provide even faster turnaround for container vessels visiting the Barbours Cut terminal where there is fast growth in container traffic," said PHA executive director Tom Kornegay.
The PHA's 2003 environmental affairs report cited lower noise levels as a major benefit from five new-generation Konecranes machines the authority bought last year for USD7.44 million. The PHA was already operating 10 of Konecranes' earlier RTGs at the time the report was written.
The five newest cranes were not only faster than the previous models but also operated about 10 decibels quieter, putting them in the range of roughly 70-75 decibels, the report said.
Environmental and performance benefits had been a significant contributing factor in helping Konecranes VLC to win orders, said Tuomas Saastamoinen, sales manager for the firm's container handling business.