PSA terminals in Port of Antwerp to get 34 straddle carriers from Cargotec
Cargotec, the Finland-based manufacturer of cargo-handling vehicles, has secured a major contract in Belgium. It will deliver 34 Kalmar straddle carriers for two terminals of the PSA Group in the Port of Antwerp, MPET and PSA Antwerp. The order will be fulfilled during the third quarter of 2022.
According to the agreement signed on Thursday, 25 November, 29 straddle carriers will be supplied to MSC PSA European Terminal (MPET), a joint venture of PSA and MSC, and five more units directly to PSA Antwerp for operations on its Noordzee and Europa terminals. 15 vehicles (10 units for MPET and five for PSA Antwerp) from the order will be hybrid. This will help to reduce CO2 emissions by at least 15 per cent compared to conventional diesel machines. 19 other vehicles will be diesel-electric. All the machines have a spacious, ergonomic cabin and intuitive user interface, they could be fully automated.
“We chose Kalmar Straddle Carriers to replace our older equipment due to the eco-efficiency potential, high-quality products and excellent local service capabilities. As a straddle carrier terminal, we trust that the new-generation equipment will help us improve our operational performance, and the hybrids, in particular, will help reduce the carbon footprint of our operations,” said Harold Kunst, CEO at MPET.
PSA terminals
MSC PSA European Terminal (MPET) is a joint venture between PSA and Terminal Investment Limited (TIL), a dedicated subsidiary of MSC. With an annual throughput capacity of 9 million TEU, a quay length of 3.7 kilometres and a surface area of 242 hectares, MPET is the largest container terminal in Europe and accounts for more than 50 per cent of Antwerp’s total container volume. MPET is equipped with 38 container cranes and has 9 berths to handle the largest ships in the world.
PSA Antwerp is the second flagship within the PSA Group. PSA Antwerp operates three container terminals in the Port of Antwerp: Noordzee and Europa Terminals, and the mentioned MPET facility. The group is also active in general cargo handling at the PSA Breakbulk Terminal.