ABB to enable remote control of STS cranes at Maasvlakte II


  • Maasvlakte II STS cranes will be the first in Europe to operate without a driver on board

ABB has been awarded contracts by APM Terminals and Rotterdam World Gateway (RWG) to provide automation systems for their new ship-to-shore (STS) cranes at their respective Maasvlakte II terminals in the Port of Rotterdam.
The two new terminals will be the first in Europe to use remote control ofSTS cranes, and the terminal of APM Terminals will be the first in the world where STS cranes have no driver’s cabin installed.
“These projects underscore the need for fast and cost-effective container handling, and how the latest automation technologies can be applied to dramatically increase efficiency as a response to higher productivity requirements,” said Veli-Matti Reinikkala, head of ABB’s Process Automation division.
ABB’s system for remote control of STS cranes has the crane operators working in a control room located in the terminal building helping to reduce the stress on the operator’s back and neck, whilst improving working ergonomics.
Operators supervise the crane motion via onboard cameras. With a crane operator on board, crane acceleration and deceleration rates are limited. With no operator on board, the crane can run faster and ramp times can be shorter, enabling significantly shorter cycle times to unload an entire ship’s worth of cargo.
The Port of Rotterdam's Maasvlakte II is scheduled to open for commercial operations in 2014.


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