Portonave incorporates seven electric RTG cranes for USD 37.8 million

Portonave incorporated seven new electric RTG cranes. The units, which measure 28 meters in height and weigh 150 tons, are the first of a purchase of 14 units and are estimated to enter operation in August.

The remaining units are expected to arrive by the end of July, according to the main port operator in the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina.

The equipment departed from Dalian, China, aboard a Cosco vessel, on a journey of approximately 20,000 kilometers. The unloading operation began immediately after docking and will extend until Thursday the 9th, taking approximately one and a half days to transfer the equipment from the vessel to the pier.

The forecast is that the first seven units will become operational in mid-August and the others will begin their activities in the first week of September.

The e-RTGs are from the Konecranes brand and were designed in Finland and manufactured in China. These new cranes are capable of mobilizing up to 41 tons and can operate up to seven containers high, although at Portonave – for safety reasons – only five containers are stacked per tower.

The new e-RTGs arrive ready to operate in the terminal's yard electrification system, powered by batteries. This structure has served the other RTGs in the fleet since 2016, when Portonave electrified its 18 diesel-powered units. The electrification reduced the emission of polluting gases from these cranes by 96.5%.

The electric fleet will continue to grow. In this second half of the year, two new Ship-to-Shore (STS) cranes will arrive, and with gradual deliveries until January 2027, 30 electric Terminal Tractors and five electric Reach Stackers will become operational.

The equipment was acquired through Reporto, a tax regime created in 2004 to stimulate the modernization of the country's port infrastructure. The program benefits companies in the port and railway sectors with the exemption of federal taxes on the purchase of equipment, including Import Tax, IPI, and contributions to PIS and Cofins-Importation.

Modernization

The new cranes, valued at USD 37.8 million, prepare the terminal for its new appearance through the adaptation of its pier, which is scheduled for completion in the second half of this year and will enable the terminal to serve vessels up to 400 meters long.

Overall, investments in works and acquisitions made by Portonave exceed USD 360 million (more than R$ 2 billion). With this, the terminal will have 8 STS and 32 RTGs, and the handling capacity will increase from 1.5 million to 2 million TEUs per year.