HHLA TK Estonia is set to introduce Europe’s first fully battery-powered Rubber‑Tyred Gantry (RTG) cranes capable of running an entire shift without diesel.
Supplied by Konecranes and scheduled for delivery later this year, the cranes represent a major step towards fully electric yard operations and support the terminal’s long-term sustainability plans.
The RTGs will operate in the Muuga container yard, forming part of broader investments in energy-efficient, low-emission terminal infrastructure. Each crane features a 296 kWh battery system, providing up to eight hours of autonomous operation.
Riia Sillave, CEO of HHLA TK Estonia, said: “Our terminal in Muuga follows a long-term sustainability strategy that we are implementing step by step. This investment marks an important milestone in the development of battery-powered equipment at European container terminals and supports our efforts to modernise operations while further reducing emissions.”
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Tanel Ringo, Technology and Infrastructure Manager at HHLA TK Estonia, added: “Renewing our container yard RTG fleet with these Europe-first Konecranes battery-electric RTGs allows us to further modernise our yard while maintaining operational consistency across the fleet, which already includes several pieces of equipment from the supplier. Having the manufacturer’s engineering and production located in the same northern climate region is also beneficial when developing equipment for our operating conditions.”
Philipp Reiter, Regional Sales Manager EMEA, Port Solutions, Konecranes, noted: “Close collaboration with a partner just across the Gulf of Finland enables us to move development initiatives quickly into real-world yard performance. This order demonstrates how battery technology is shifting from being a mitigation solution to providing power for full-scale operational use in container terminals.”
The delivery marks the first time RTGs with this level of battery capacity will be deployed in Europe. Unlike traditional diesel cranes, the new units run entirely on battery power, cutting emissions and noise at the terminal.
The delivery of battery-electric RTGs in Muuga follows a broader trend at HHLA terminals: in February, HHLA Container Terminal Tollerort GmbH in Hamburg ordered eight hybrid Konecranes Noell NSC 644 EHY straddle carriers as part of its strategy to reduce fuel consumption and tailpipe emissions.
For more information:
HHLA – https://hhla.de/en/
