Porto Itapoá has acquired a fleet of 20 new electric trucks for its internal operations.
These trucks, known as Terminal Tractors (TTs), are used to transport containers within the terminal.
The acquisition costs R$20 million ($3 million) and is part of the port’s growth strategy. It currently has the largest fleet of electric TTs among Brazilian port terminals.
Sergni Pessoa Rosa Jr., Director of Operations, Technology, and Environment at Porto Itapoá, said: “As a result, we will prevent 2,000 tonnes of carbon emissions per year into the atmosphere.”
The equipment is expected to be operational starting in August. The TTs will be charged at the terminal, which has revised its energy purchase strategy to only use renewable sources in the national grid since last year.
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Rosa Jr. added: “We now exclusively procure energy from renewable sources. In April this year, we received an international certificate confirming that 100 per cent of our 2023 consumption originated from renewable sources.”
According to the port, each truck can transport up to 65 tonnes and has a range of 150 kilometres, which equates to around 10 hours of work.
“Combined, the new TTs will provide us with a range of 3,000 kilometres until their next charge, demonstrating that effective environmental management directly impacts productivity,” assesses the Director.
In April of this year, Porto Itapoá opened Phase III of its terminal expansion, adding another 200,000 square meters of yard space, including an 8,000 square metre warehouse, for a total expenditure of R$815 million ($146 million).
With this extension, Porto Itapoá currently manages one of Brazil’s largest container yards, spanning 455 thousand square metres and capable of processing up to 2 million TEU per year.
These expenditures also include the purchase of huge equipment, the first in South America to operate remotely operated hybrid Rubber-Tyred Gantry (RTGs) cranes, and the expansion of berths.
