DCT Gdansk, a member of the PSA Group, has ordered ten new Konecranes Automated RTG (ARTG) cranes and committed to the retrofitting of its current fleet of 15 electric, manual Konecranes RTGs for automated operation. The order was booked in March 2022. The first two manual RTGs will be retrofitted to ARTG by April 2023, with the remaining 13 manual RTGs following suit by January 2024. The 10 new ARTGs will be delivered by September 2023.

DCT Gdansk has a fleet of 15 manually operated Konecranes RTGs from 2016 and the technology on order will serve as part of the terminal’s ongoing expansion plans. The retrofitted and new Konecranes ARTGs will have the latest Konecranes ARTG technology including a fully automated gantry, enabled by the “street bogie”. Truck handling will be remotely supervised from Remote Operating Stations (ROSs). Special features will include container number recognition based on OCR technology, and terminal tractor recognition based on RFID technology. Overall, the ARTG fleet will provide high productivity that is consistent and predictable, while contributing to improved safety – there will be much less man/machine interaction than with manned RTGs.

Roman Ivanov, Sales Manager, Port Solutions, Konecranes, said: “DCT Gdansk has chosen us for automated RTG operation because we have a proven track record of ARTG delivery and many satisfied ARTG customers. Our experience is essential, because we can retrofit DCT Gdansk’s manual RTGs to ARTG in phases while delivering the new ARTGs.”

Integration of the Konecranes ARTGs with the Equipment Control System (ECS), developed in-house by PSA, will progress in carefully scheduled phases. “This project is very ambitious and central to our expansion plans. We needed a supplier with experience of handling both sides of this automation equation, new equipment and retrofitting, while working with our Equipment Control System. We also wanted the highest-performing RTGs. Konecranes convinced us in every respect,” said Mustafa Dogan, Technical Director of DCT Gdansk.

This is a prime example of Kone­cranes’ path to port automation, where container terminals improve productivity and safety in manageable steps. From smart features up to full automation, the path can include supervised operation and remote operation to smoothly introduce the power of automation. The path to port automation applies to all container handling equipment brands. Full automation can be the final goal but it doesn’t have to be. Flexibility is the key.

A strong focus on customers and a commitment to business growth and continuous improvement make Konecranes a lifting industry leader. This is underpinned by investments in digitalization and technology, plus our work to make material flows more efficient with solutions that decarbonize the economy and advance circularity and safety.

For more information:

Roman Ivanov, Sales Manager, Port Solutions, Konecranes

Email: roman.ivanov@konecranes.com or phone: +358404825845

This press release is available at our website konecranes.com

Konecranes is a world-leading group of Lifting Businesses, serving a broad range of customers, including manufacturing and process industries, shipyards, ports and terminals. Konecranes provides productivity enhancing lifting solutions as well as services for lifting equipment of all makes. In 2021 Group sales totaled EUR 3.2 billion. The Group has approximately 16,600 employees in around 50 countries. Konecranes shares are listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki (symbol: KCR).