Porto Itapoa, a Brazilian container terminal on the northern coast of Santa Catarina, is awaiting the arrival in December of a ship-to-shore (STS) container crane and 10 hybrid rubber-tyred gantry cranes (RTG) supplied by manufacturer ZPMC.

The fleet additions are part of an investment in new equipment which will support port expansion, due for completion this year.

Set to improve efficiency, the STS crane can reach 70 m high and is at the leading edge of port equipment and technology.

The fuel consumption of the remotely controlled RTG cranes is three times lower than a conventional RTG.

The port is also set to receive five other pieces of equipment by May.

In addition to the cranes, the port has also acquired two Kalmar reachstackers.

The high-performance stackers feature innovative cargo handling technology, offering high performance throughout the entire operating cycle, with lifting capacity of up to 45 T.

The port already has three similar pieces of equipment, having received nine terminal tractors (TTs) by Brazilian company Rucker last July.

Considered as one of the most agile terminals in Latin America, the port has a fleet of 40 vehicles carrying 65 T each – equivalent to two 20-ft. containers.

Itapoa is the first port in Brazil to deploy this kind of equipment, driving innovation and sustainability, says Sergni Pessoa Junior, director of operations, environment and technology.

“The main goal behind the acquisition of the remotely controlled RTG cranes, in addition to innovation and sustainability, is to provide comfort and ergonomics to operators, which will result in improved satisfaction, efficiency and productivity,” he says.

Itapoa commenced operations in 2011, handling 1.2 million TEUs each year.

Its final expansion of an additional 200,000 sqm will see its capacity increase to 2 million TEUs.

It handled some 885,822 TEUs last year, up by 14.2% from the previous year – the greatest growth among the five largest container terminals in Brazil.