Europea Servizi Terminalistici Srl (EST), a subsidiary of the Italian Shipping & Logistics Agency Srl (ISLA), has ordered a hybrid drive Konecranes Gottwald ESP.8 mobile harbour crane (MHC) for the port of Augusta, Sicily.
After signing a 25-year concession to operate the new container terminal in Augusta, EST has invested in the hybrid MHC – which has a lifting capacity of 150 tonnes. A 5.3-m tower extension and 65-tonne twin-lift spreaders will help EST handle specialised heavy cargo like wind energy components.
The crane’s hybrid drive merges a diesel engine with two ultracapacitors to reduce fuel consumption and tailpipe emissions. It can also be connected via an external power supply, allowing for full electrification and zero tailpipe emissions.
“As we scale up operations in Augusta, we’re focused on immediate efficiency gains while preparing for a fully electric future,” said Pietro B. Coniglio, managing director of EST and ISLA. “This first investment in Konecranes hybrid equipment is perfectly aligned with our journey, enabling us to take on more complex cargo in a sustainable manner and to meet the increasing demand for our services, especially from the growing offshore wind industry in the Mediterranean.”
EST has also moved a Konecranes Gottwald Generation 5 MHC from the port of Catania to Augusta.
“The potential of Sicily, and particularly the port of Augusta, for developing the Mediterranean offshore wind industry is enormous,” added Coniglio.
Booked in Q1 2025, delivery and commissioning are expected to by the end of this summer.
