Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA) is set to revolutionize operations at its Container Terminal Burchardkai (CTB) with the introduction of 116 Li-Ion Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) from Konecranes. This marks the largest single order ever for Konecranes Gottwald AGVs, which was placed in 2022. The new fleet is part of HHLA’s plan to transition to a fully electric Automated Horizontal Transport System and will help the company achieve its goal of carbon neutrality by 2040. Delivery of the AGVs will continue until 2025, expanding HHLA’s Konecranes AGV fleet to over 200 vehicles.
The Konecranes Gottwald AGVs will be used for automated container transport at the Waltershofer Hafen hub, covering a quay length of 3.6 kilometers. The delivery includes an advanced safety system, integrated with CTB’s quay cranes and automated stacking cranes, ensuring smooth and secure operations from shipside to landside.
Ingo Witte, General Manager of HHLA Container Terminal Burchardkai, emphasized the importance of this transition from manual, diesel-powered operations to fully automated, emission-free AGVs. “We are nearing the completion of our conversion from manual straddle carrier operations to automated, emission-free AGVs between the quay and storage blocks. Konecranes has played a pivotal role in supporting us to achieve our ambitious carbon-reduction goals. HHLA aims to be carbon neutral by 2040,” Witte said.
The partnership between HHLA and Konecranes spans two decades and has seen joint research and development on AGV battery technology, including work at HHLA’s Container Terminal Altenwerder, the world’s first certified climate-neutral container terminal. According to Witte, the transformation of CTB is a significant step forward, representing the largest brownfield upgrade of an operational plant in the industry. Once completed, the modernization is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by up to 12,000 tons annually.
Ralf Konnerth, Director of Automated Horizontal Transport at Konecranes, reflected on the long-term partnership with HHLA. “We began our journey with HHLA during the diesel-hydraulic era and have progressed together through various technologies, including lead-acid batteries. It’s rewarding to see our latest generation of AGVs with Li-Ion battery technology in use at Container Terminal Burchardkai, supporting HHLA’s journey to net-zero,” Konnerth said. He also highlighted Konecranes’ role in managing the complex integration of new technology at the terminal while ensuring uninterrupted port operations.
This milestone order is a testament to Konecranes’ commitment to port automation, which allows container terminals to boost productivity and safety in a phased approach. The company’s Ecolifting™ vision, aimed at increasing environmental benefits through its product portfolio while reducing customer carbon footprints, underscores its leadership in the material handling industry. From hybridization to fully electrified fleets, Konecranes continues to push boundaries in sustainable port operations.
