New UK port cranes run on hydrotreated vegetable oils
25 October 2022The UK’s Port of Dover has installed two Liebherr mobile harbour cranes that run on hydrotreated vegetable oils (HVO), a renewable diesel fuel source.
Using HVO can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90% when compared with conventional fossil-derived diesel, says Liebherr. The company also claimed it’s the first time that the fuel has been used in such circumstances in the UK.
HVO can now be used in the majority of the Liebherr cranes, construction machines and mining equipment, in pure form or in addition to fossil diesel.
As well as supporting the port’s drive towards achieving its decarbonisation targets, the cranes – an LHM 280 and LHM 550 – have been installed “to strengthen a fleet of equipment that enables the multi-purpose terminal to handle and distribute all types of cargo arriving and departing from the world’s busiest shipping lane”.
The LHM 550 is the larger of the pair. It is able to lift 104t with a maximum reach of 54m. The LHM 280, meanwhile, has an 84t lift capacity and will reach out to 40m. Both can handle steel, breakbulk, containers, palletised fruit, and other loads.
The Port of Dover said that the robust design of the Liebherr LHM cranes was an important consideration when procuring them, especially given the exposed and windy nature of the terminal. The cranes can work in wind speeds of up to a Force 9 severe gale (75-88km/h), meaning vessels can be unloaded all year round, in almost all weather conditions.
Speaking on delivery of the cranes, Karen Hayes, general manager at Port of Dover Cargo, said: “We have continued to adapt to the latest technologies and techniques, enabling the team to process every range of cargo in the industry and expand our customer base even further.”
Robert Alexander, sales manager at Liebherr-Great Britain, added: “It has been a pleasure working with the team at Port of Dover. We wish the port every success as they expand their operations, and we look forward to working with them in the future.”
Liebherr-MCCtec Rostock GmbH is a European manufacturer of maritime handling solutions. The product range includes ship, mobile harbour and offshore cranes. Reach stackers and components for container cranes are also included in the product portfolio. The firm is part of the Liebherr Group, which comprises more than 140 companies around the world. In 2021, it generated a total consolidated turnover of over €11.6bn.
