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Eight diesel-powered RTGs successfully electrified in conjunction with Cavotec
DP World, the Dubai-based terminal operator, has successfully electrified eight diesel powered rubber-tyred gantry cranes (RTGs) at its flagship Jebel Ali Port.
The eight RTGs were fitted with cable reel electrical power supply systems designed and manufactured by the global engineering group Cavotec.
The switch from fossil fuel to electricity will reduce monthly diesel consumption by 109,000 litres in average, saving on energy costs and reducing emissions by almost 2,000 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year, based on field trials.
“Care for the environment is a cornerstone of our Corporate Responsibility programme focused on the UAE community,” explains Mohammed Al Muallem, senior vice president and managing director, DP World, UAE region.
“Electrification of the giant cranes that drive our container handling operations at Jebel Ali is one of the most significant steps we have taken in that direction.”
“Our technical teams will closely monitor the performance of the electrified RTGs over the coming months and measure their impact on the port’s carbon footprint.”
Jebel Ali’s container terminals are equipped with a total of 78 quay cranes to cater to the world’s largest container vessels, 60 electrical Rail Mounted Gantry (RMG) cranes and 123 Rubber Tyred Gantry (RTG) cranes.
This year, DP World added one million TEU to the capacity of Jebel Ali to take capacity at the port to 15 million TEU, extending its Container Terminal 2 quay wall by 400 metres to 3,000 metres in the process.
Together with Container Terminal 3, now under construction and scheduled to open in 2014, Jebel Ali Port’s capacity will reach 19 million TEU and will be able to handle 10 of the giant new generation ultra large container ships (ULCS) at the same time – the only port in the region with this capability.
