Kalmar, part of Cargotec, has delivered the three hybrid shuttle carriers ordered by The Port of Virginia in late 2014, to Virginia International Gateway terminal (VIG) in Portsmouth, Virginia, USA. The environmentally advanced units have been in action in VIG since last week.
Cargo volumes at VIG are growing and the terminal's operations team seeks to increase container handling capacity while furthering its commitment to environmental values. The hybrid technology developed by Kalmar for cargo handling equipment significantly reduces diesel fuel consumption and emissions, as well as engine noise levels. Furthermore, Kalmar hybrid shuttle carriers feature industry leading stability, safety, and maneuverability features such as active stability control as a standard and the redesigned drive and steering which allows the machine to move diagonally in crab mode and around its vertical axis, enhancing the performance of the operations.
Joe Harris, spokesman for The Port of Virginia, said: "Green technology, efficiency and accuracy of operations, and employee safety are important factors for us at VIG. We are pleased with the cooperation with Kalmar and thrilled to see the first real hybrid shuttle carriers in the US now in action in our fleet. As we go further, we are sure these additions to our fleet will no doubt help us in achieving our operational and environmental targets."
"We are very proud to have had this opportunity to work with VIG in this ground-breaking project, and wish them continued success with their operations," said Dr. Tero Kokko, Vice President Horizontal Transportation, Kalmar. He continued: "The developments we have made in shuttle carrier technology bring many benefits to container handling business at modern terminals. We are investing in R&D and are committed to providing state-of-the-art solutions to port terminals in the future, too."
Virginia International Gateway is a privately-owned marine container terminal located along the Elizabeth River in Portsmouth, Virginia. The terminal is under lease to the Virginia Port Authority (VPA) and is operated by Virginia International Terminals LLC, the VPA's privately-held terminal operating company.
