During a ceremony at TAMT, the Port demonstrated the crane system’s tandem-lift capabilities, hosted by ILWU Local 29 president Anthony Soniga.
“Our all-new, all-electric cranes meet our dual-focused maritime mission – delivering cleaner air for our communities and delivering goods our families and businesses rely on such as geo-thermal, solar and wind farm parts that will help strengthen the power grid for the southwestern U.S.,” said Chairman Frank Urtasun, Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners. “We’re improving air quality, driving commerce, and supporting good jobs. Everybody wins.”
“California’s ports play a significant role in the state’s goods movement, and now they are playing a significant role in improving the state’s air quality for the benefit of public health, especially in portside communities that have for years breathed unhealthful air,” said CARB Chair Liane Randolph. “CARB is proud to support the Port of San Diego in its efforts to reduce emissions across all of its operations, including the introduction of the first electric harbor cranes in North America.”
The all-electric cranes built by Konecranes are replacing the Port’s old diesel-powered crane. The conversion from a diesel-powered crane to an all-electric crane system is a big step toward achieving one goal of the Port’s Maritime Clean Air Strategy (MCAS) of transitioning all cargo handling equipment to zero emissions by 2030.
In addition to the public health and environmental benefits, the new crane system allows the Port to compete for more business. The cranes represent the heaviest lift capability of any port crane system currently in place on the U.S. West Coast – up to 400 metric tons (MT). Most of the heavy-lift cargoes destined for this region weigh more than 200 MT, including larger pieces of solar, wind, and industrial energy equipment as well as project cargoes.
Some of the target cargo for the two cranes will be electric grid strengthening projects including geo-thermal, solar and wind farms specifically in Arizona, Nevada, Southern California and Utah.
In support of the MCAS, the Port and various partners, have invested or committed nearly $125 million in clean air technologies and infrastructure projects, including the electric cranes.
The Port purchased the battery supported electric cranes for approximately $14m, paid for through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and California Coronavirus Fiscal Recovery Funds, administered by the California State Lands Commission. The Port also spent an additional $8.9m on electrical infrastructure improvements to support the cranes, which included $2.7m in grant funding from the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District.
