Port of Virginia Orders 10 Electric Ship-to-Shore Cranes from Kalmar for NIT

Kalmar received an order from the Port of Virginia, a deep-water terminal on the U.S. East Coast, for 10 electric ship-to-shore cranes. The order was recorded in the order book for the third quarter of 2026, and delivery is scheduled to be completed in the third quarter of 2027, bound for the Norfolk International Terminals (NIT).

The Port of Virginia operates semi-automated container terminals, including Virginia International Gateway (VIG) and NIT itself. The port authority is committed to sustainable operations and the development of an eco-efficient supply chain, with the goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions (Scope 1 and 2) by 2040.

The 10 new electric ship-to-shore cranes will be added to NIT, the port's largest terminal. Once delivery is complete, NIT will have more than 90 semi-automated stacking cranes and 113 Kalmar hybrid ship-to-shore cranes, reaching an annual capacity of 3.6 million TEU following the ongoing expansion.

The equipment features next-generation lithium-ion batteries, specially designed for heavy machinery, enabling up to 600 minutes of operation. The cranes will also be equipped with Kalmar's collision warning system, which enhances safety by alerting operators to potential hazards through visual and audible alarms.

Patrick Jefferson, Director of Operations at NIT, noted that integrating these fully electric cranes with the collision warning system is a vital step toward safer, more sustainable operations. Meanwhile, Troy Thompson, Kalmar's Sales Director for the Americas, highlighted that the relationship with the Port of Virginia has been in place since 2007, and that expanding the fleet to 113 units reflects the confidence placed in the company's solutions.