Cargotec Argentina's solution for BACTSSA involved increasing the length of the RTGs' columns by 2.9 metres (9.5 feet) by installing column extensions.

Buenos Aires Container Terminal Services SA (BACTSSA) is extending the performance of its rubber-tyred gantry cranes (RTGs) to handle increasing annual TEU movements.

BACTSSA had been operating the two Kalmar RTGs for 10 years, before it awarded Cargotec Argentina a contract to increase the lifting capacity of the machines from 1-over-4 to 1-over-5 containers high.

The modifications to the RTGs required thorough structural and mechanical calculations, and the design has to meet international standards.

Cargotec Argentina managing director Marcelo Massa says modifying RTGs is a good solution when container handling capacity has to be increased quickly and cost-efficiently.

"By extending the container stacking height, capacity can be increased considerably without taking up more space in the terminal," Massa explains.

The solution involved increasing the length of the RTGs' columns by 2.9 metres (9.5 feet) by installing column extensions manufactured by local suppliers. Cargotec experts closely supervised the manufacturing of the column extensions.

Cargotec Argentina's staff of engineers, supervisors, mechanics and electricians, completed the RTGs' modification in less than two months.

"This successful project ratified the high potential and capability of Cargotec Argentina to manage complex projects such as modernising and refurbishing container cranes", Massa says.

BACTSSA, a Hutchison Whampoa Limited company, has been operating in Argentina's main container gateway, the Port of Buenos Aires, since 1994. It handles over 300,000 TEUs annually.

BACTSSA's terminal has two mooring sites for container vessels with modern equipment and infrastructure. The company also operates four Kalmar E-One RTGs which are 6+1 wide and capable of stacking 1-over-5 high.