The Konecranes Gottwald ESP.8 hybrid mobile harbour crane, with a 150t lifting capacity, supports EST’s sustainability initiatives. Credit: Konecranes.

Europea Servizi Terminalistici (EST), a subsidiary of the Italian Shipping & Logistics Agency (ISLA), has acquired a new hybrid drive Konecranes Gottwald ESP.8 mobile harbour crane for the Port of Augusta in Sicily, Italy.

The order, recorded in the first quarter of 2025, is set to be delivered and commissioned by the end of summer.

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EST recently won a 25-year concession to manage the new container terminal.

This investment aims to increase the port’s productivity and support EST’s sustainability objectives at the port.

The new mobile harbour crane, with a 150 tonne lifting capacity, will help EST to focus on sustainability and efficiency, according to the company.

EST and ISLA managing director Pietro Coniglio said: “This first investment in Konecranes hybrid equipment is perfectly aligned with our journey, enabling us to take on more complex cargo in a sustainable manner and to meet the increasing demand for our services, especially from the growing offshore wind industry in the Mediterranean.”

The crane’s advanced features, including a 5.3m tower extension and 65t twin-lift spreaders, are designed to optimise container handling and the movement of specialised heavy loads such as wind energy components.

EST will also benefit from Konecranes’ predictive services, which utilise TRUCONNECT monitoring and a condition-based maintenance system for crucial crane parts.

The hybrid drive technology merges a diesel engine with dual ultracapacitors, aiming to reduce fuel consumption and emissions.

Furthermore, the crane can be connected to an external power source, allowing for complete electrification and the elimination of on site emissions once the Port of Augusta has the necessary infrastructure.

EST’s existing Konecranes Gottwald Generation 5 mobile harbour crane has been relocated to the new Augusta terminal from the Port of Catania.

Konecranes regional sales manager Gino Gherri said: “Konecranes Gottwald mobile harbour cranes are a future-proof choice for port operators looking to balance productivity and sustainability on the journey to full electrification.”

In October 2024, APM Terminals Maasvlakte II contracted Konecranes to provide an Automated Horizontal Transport System to help double the terminal’s capacity by 2027.