Port Of Hamburg Welcomes Its First Remote-Controlled Container Gantry Cranes

The Container Terminal Altenwerder (CTA) in Hamburg has received three advanced remote-controlled container gantry cranes, making them the first of their kind in the Port of Hamburg.

The cranes arrived at CTA on Saturday, December 14, 2024, aboard the special ship ZHONG REN 121. These cranes partially assembled from Ireland by Liebherr will play a crucial role in enhancing automation and efficiency in container handling.

With a total height of 120 meters when raised, a jib length of 70 meters, and a span covering 22 container rows, the cranes are designed to handle vessels with capacities of up to 16,000 TEU.

Each crane weighs 1,600 tonnes, can lift up to 80 tonnes, and has a lifting height of 42.5 meters.

These cranes will be installed at berth 1 of CTA by the end of December and will start operations gradually in 2025. HHLA plans to replace all 14 gantry cranes at CTA with highly automated models by 2026.

The manufacturing of the next set of cranes is already underway, with their arrival expected in two years.

HHLA’s CEO, Angela Titzrath, talked about the importance of this upgrade, saying that the cranes are essential in modernising terminal operations and maintaining the competitiveness of the Port of Hamburg. She said that this investment is a commitment to deliver top-quality services to the customers.

Rebecca Vick, Director of Container Development Hamburg, called the arrival of the cranes a major advancement in the terminal operations. She added that the new technology will improve efficiency, ensure sustainability and increase automation.

The cranes feature semi-automated operations, with remote control from a modernised station located in the terminal’s officer building.

Operators will be able to monitor and control the cranes with the help of extensive automated assistance systems, allowing for smoother loading and unloading of ships.

An integrated optical character recognition (OCR) system automatically records container details and compares them with pre-registered digital information, ensuring accuracy and efficiency.

According to CTA’s Managing Director, Patrick Krawutschke, the company is investing in comprehensive training programs to prepare its employees for the transition. A realistic simulation environment is being developed under the DigiRemote2030 project to train operators on how to use the new crane technology effectively.

The cranes will be tested extensively throughout the year 2025. Their drive systems, automated features, and remote-control capabilities will be activated in phases.

The terminal will also involve adjustments to IT systems and the integration of cranes.

CTA, established in 2002, has been a leader in port automation and sustainability. In the past five years, HHLA has invested over €1 billion in its Port Logistics subgroup, with around 40% spent on modernising its terminals in Hamburg.

Reference: Hamburger Hafen

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