Major Colombia order for Kalmar

The Port of Cartagena Group in Colombia has ordered 23 rubber tyre gantry (RTG) cranes and 79 Ottawa T2 terminal tractors from Kalmar.

The order is for Sociedad Portuaria Region de Cartagena S.A. (SPRC) and Terminal de Contenedores de Cartagena S.A. (Contecar) in Cartagena, Colombia. Both terminals are owned and managed by Port of Cartagena Group.

The total value of the order is approximately €45 million (US$ 51 million). Five of the RTGs and nine of the terminal tractors are for SPRC and the remaining units are for Contecar. The terminal tractors will be fitted with a specially designed battery powered electrical air conditioning system. The system will help lower emissions, reduce noise and save around 30 % in fuel costs, the manufacturer said.

Eduardo Bustamante, SPRC and Contecar operations manager, said, “Our relationship with Kalmar dates back to 1997. With a proven record of true partnership and an order of this scale, there was no one else we would rely on. Our main challenge over the next few years is how to manage the rapid growth while remaining focused on serving our customers during the transitions resulting from growth. Kalmar has support us as a reliable partner consistently delivering value through quality products and support... We are also considering partially automating our RTG operations, so Kalmar, being the leader in this field, was a natural choice for us.”

Dan House, Kalmar managing director Latin America, said, “SPRC operates with one of the largest Kalmar RTG fleets globally and this agreement further demonstrates the importance of long-term partnerships where continuous support remains paramount in maintaining efficient terminal operations. The RTG cranes will come prepared for future remote control and semi-automation features, which will be added in the near future. We are also delighted that SPRC and Contecar chose the new generation Kalmar Ottawa T2 terminal tractor, which was introduced to the market last year. This is the largest single order for T2 in South America.”

Deliveries will take place between July and December 2016.