Wilson Sons, a Brazilian shipping company, has purchased 12 electric terminal tractors, two reach stackers, and a side loader for use at Brazil’s Salvador Container Terminal in Bahia.
The acquisition of stackers and terminal tractors (TTs) to support internal transport between vessels and container storage areas required investments in the neighbourhood of BRL 24 million ($5 million).
This was reportedly done to increase the Port of Salvador’s service capacity and competitiveness while focusing on efficiency and best practices for long-term growth.
Demir Lourenço, Executive Director of Salvador Container Terminal, expressed that these investments assist the company’s commitment to the climate agenda by implementing technology that reduce the consumption of fossil fuels and, as a result, the production of greenhouse gases (GHG).
“It is yet another action aligned with the most relevant demands and consistent such as the ESG guidelines and the United Nations Global Compact principles to which our sustainability strategies adhere,” said Lourenço.
Lourenço further adds that, with these investments, Brazil becomes the second country in the world and the first in the Americas to own a fleet of electric TTs.
READ: Wilson Sons invests in new technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
The 12 TTs help to cut down on diesel consumption by about 150,000 litres per year in the Bahia facility.
This is equivalent to 341 tonnes of CO2 that will be avoided annually from being released into the atmosphere.
According to Wilson Sons, a main element of the TTs is that electric motors have much less wear and tear and maintenance demands.
Additionally, the shipping company states that the equipment adds even more comfort and safety, with more ergonomic driver cabins and better soundproofing.
READ: Wilson Sons cashes $115 million in Q1 2023
Wilson Sons Sustainability Director, Monica Jaén, said: “This and other practices help us fulfil our ambition of being recognised as leaders in ESG initiatives in port and maritime logistics.”
This generates positive impacts and prosperity for our stakeholders, as we further engage our personnel in our growth strategy by taking accountable actions in the climate agenda.”
Wilson Sons’ investments in its Bahia-based container facility reportedly exceed BRL 1 billion ($209.5 million).
