HHLA puts environment-friendly storage cranes into operation at CTB

Jens Hansen, Executive Board member of HHLA, remarked: "By using new technologies, we want to fully electrify the container handling process at CTB, our largest terminal in Hamburg, while significantly improving our energy efficiency. Using electricity from renewable sources will allow us to continue decarbonising our workflows at the port." Jens Kerstan, Minister for the Environment said: “We have achieved a milestone on our path towards decarbonising CTB with the start of the fourth automated storage crane system. Electrified storage cranes are not only significantly quieter; they help avoid  a considerable amount of soot, particulate matter and nitrogen. That improves the quality of life for people near the port." Container handling is likely to gain momentum and become more modern.

The four new storage blocks, which were gradually put into operation over the first half of 2023, complement the electric container storage at CTB by an additional 8,500 standard containers (TEU). Thus, CTB's automated container yard now has as a capacity of almost 39,000 TEU spread across 19 storage blocks. The gradual conversion from the energy-intense process of storing and retrieving goods with diesel-powered straddle carriers to electric storage crane systems will reduce the terminal's carbon and pollutant emissions. This should ease the conversion to fully automated container transport (Automated Guided Vehicles), which are battery-operated and thus climate-neutral. The CTB's state-of-the-art storage crane systems has increased the terminal's efficient use of space by over 30 per cent. Three more storage blocks are now being built at CTB, which will bring storage capacity to 22 blocks in 2024. HHLA  can then continue to drive its "balanced logistics" sustainability strategy towards to its goal of climate-neutral production across the entire group by 2040.

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