The Port of San Diego has hosted a demonstration of the tandem-lift capabilities of its two new Generation 6 Mobile Harbour Cranes at the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal (TAMT), marking their debut as the first all-electric MHCs in North America.

The two cranes were ordered back in 2022 and feature battery drives instead of a small diesel gen set for moving between quays. They have a working radius of up to 59m and a maximum lifting capacity of 200 tons. The port has also opted to equip the cranes with Gottwald’s Tandem Lift Assistant. This means they can be used in twin lifting without derating required, so capacity in twin mode is 400 tons. The cranes arrived in San Diego in July 2023, and have started operating in March this year.

TAMT, one of the port’s two marine cargo terminals, serves as an omni-cargo terminal consisting of a 96-acre facility and handles breakbulk, bulk, container, and project cargos for solar, wind and hydroelectric power installations, steel, and engines used in local shipbuilding.

The electric cranes, built by Konecranes, are replacing the port’s old diesel-powered crane, as part of the efforts to implement the port’s Maritime Clean Air Strategy (MCAS) of transitioning all cargo handling equipment to zero emissions by 2030. The cranes were bought for approximately US$ 14 million, paid for through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and California Coronavirus Fiscal Recovery Funds, administered by the California State Lands Commission. The port also spent an additional US$ 8.9 million on electrical infrastructure improvements to support the cranes, which included US$ 2.7 million in grant funding from the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District.

“Our all-new, all-electric cranes meet our dual-focused maritime mission – delivering cleaner air for our communities and delivering goods our families and businesses rely on such as geo-thermal, solar and wind farm parts that will help strengthen the power grid for the southwestern US,” said Chairman Frank Urtasun, Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners.

The port said that the cranes represent the heaviest lift capability of any port crane system currently in place on the US West Coast – up to 400 metric tons (MT). Most of the heavy-lift cargoes destined for this region weigh more than 200 MT, including larger pieces of solar, wind, and industrial energy equipment as well as project cargoes.

“With their heavier capacity and faster offloading speed, the new cranes also better serve our existing operations when crane movements are needed. Some of the target cargo for the two cranes will be electric grid strengthening projects including geo-thermal, solar and wind farms specifically in Arizona, Nevada, Southern California and Utah,” the port said.

In support of the MCAS, the Port of San Diego and its partners have assigned nearly US$ 125 million towards clean air technologies and infrastructure projects, including the new cranes.

The port is also home to the first all-electric tugboat in the United States, operated by Crowley Shipping. It is adding more shore power at its cargo and cruise terminals and operating a new solar-powered microgrid at TAMT. Additionally, the port is deploying a maritime emissions capture and control system, known as a bonnet, for vessels that are not shore power capable, expected to begin operations in 2025.

The port is also supporting its tenant electrification initiatives, such as:

• Terminalift: electric reach stacker, forklifts, and two on-road semi-trucks.
• SSA Marine: six new pieces of electric cargo handling equipment, including a recently deployed forklift.
• Pasha: all-electric car haulers in the US.
• Dole: battery-electric terminal tractors.

The Port of San Diego has hosted a demonstration of the tandem-lift capabilities of its two new Generation 6 Mobile Harbour Cranes at the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal (TAMT), marking their debut as the first all-electric MHCs in North America.

The two cranes were ordered back in 2022 and feature battery drives instead of a small diesel gen set for moving between quays. They have a working radius of up to 59m and a maximum lifting capacity of 200 tons. The port has also opted to equip the cranes with Gottwald’s Tandem Lift Assistant. This means they can be used in twin lifting without derating required, so capacity in twin mode is 400 tons. The cranes arrived in San Diego in July 2023, and have started operating in March this year.

TAMT, one of the port’s two marine cargo terminals, serves as an omni-cargo terminal consisting of a 96-acre facility and handles breakbulk, bulk, container, and project cargos for solar, wind and hydroelectric power installations, steel, and engines used in local shipbuilding.

The electric cranes, built by Konecranes, are replacing the port’s old diesel-powered crane, as part of the efforts to implement the port’s Maritime Clean Air Strategy (MCAS) of transitioning all cargo handling equipment to zero emissions by 2030. The cranes were bought for approximately US$ 14 million, paid for through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and California Coronavirus Fiscal Recovery Funds, administered by the California State Lands Commission. The port also spent an additional US$ 8.9 million on electrical infrastructure improvements to support the cranes, which included US$ 2.7 million in grant funding from the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District.

“Our all-new, all-electric cranes meet our dual-focused maritime mission – delivering cleaner air for our communities and delivering goods our families and businesses rely on such as geo-thermal, solar and wind farm parts that will help strengthen the power grid for the southwestern US,” said Chairman Frank Urtasun, Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners.

The port said that the cranes represent the heaviest lift capability of any port crane system currently in place on the US West Coast – up to 400 metric tons (MT). Most of the heavy-lift cargoes destined for this region weigh more than 200 MT, including larger pieces of solar, wind, and industrial energy equipment as well as project cargoes.

“With their heavier capacity and faster offloading speed, the new cranes also better serve our existing operations when crane movements are needed. Some of the target cargo for the two cranes will be electric grid strengthening projects including geo-thermal, solar and wind farms specifically in Arizona, Nevada, Southern California and Utah,” the port said.

In support of the MCAS, the Port of San Diego and its partners have assigned nearly US$ 125 million towards clean air technologies and infrastructure projects, including the new cranes.

The port is also home to the first all-electric tugboat in the United States, operated by Crowley Shipping. It is adding more shore power at its cargo and cruise terminals and operating a new solar-powered microgrid at TAMT. Additionally, the port is deploying a maritime emissions capture and control system, known as a bonnet, for vessels that are not shore power capable, expected to begin operations in 2025.

The port is also supporting its tenant electrification initiatives, such as:

• Terminalift: electric reach stacker, forklifts, and two on-road semi-trucks.
• SSA Marine: six new pieces of electric cargo handling equipment, including a recently deployed forklift.
• Pasha: all-electric car haulers in the US.
• Dole: battery-electric terminal tractors.