NES to supply battery system for gantry crane

Gearbulk is replacing one of the EMU Arrow’s old gantry cranes with a more efficient electric jib crane. NES will act as system integrator and deliver the battery system for the new crane, including the container and charging system. The work is expected to take place in the middle of next year.

“Gearbulk has actively advocated for increased global regulations of CO2 emissions in the shipping industry,” said Ketil Andreassen, managing director at Gearbulk.

“This crane conversion, along with the installation of a containerised battery system, is one of many activities we undertake to both ensure an even more efficient running of our fleet, as well as reducing our impact on the environment to a minimum,” he added.

Until now, the gantry crane has been powered by three diesel-driven auxiliary engines. Through installing a batterised container system, the new jib crane can be operated by only one auxiliary engine, in combination with the battery. The vessel will also benefit from the peak shaving effect, as the auxiliary generator will be able to run continuously at an optimised load. As an added bonus the battery will be recharged by using the return power during cargo operation.

“Hybridisation of the new crane is a highly efficient method of both reducing operating expenditure and harmful emissions to air,” said Stein Ruben Larsen, senior vice president of sales at NES. “Local particle emissions will be reduced when you run one instead of three auxiliary diesel engines, but fuel consumption and CO2 emissions will also be reduced significantly,” he added.