Pilbara Ports in Western Australia has ordered two ESP.9 Konecranes Gottwald Mobile Harbor Cranes for the Port of Port Hedland – the world’s largest bulk export port by tonnage. The cranes were booked in Q4 2024 and are scheduled to be delivered to Pilbara Ports Lumsden Point development in 2026.
The Port of Port Hedland handled more than 570 million tonnes of throughput during the 2023-24 financial year. With forecast trade growth in the Pilbara region, the Lumsden Point development is a key part of the plan to increase capacity at the port.
These 200-tonne lifting capacity ESP.9 Konecranes Gottwald mobile harbor cranes will significantly improve the port’s ability to handle containerized bulk material and project cargo, alleviating increasing congestion and diversifying trade. And as each crane is equipped with a 100-meter cable reel for external power supply, Pilbara Ports can improve energy efficiency and significantly cut on-site exhaust and noise emissions.
“Mobile harbor cranes are a critical component of the Lumsden Point development, facilitating the export of battery metals, the import of renewable energy infrastructure and supporting the growth of direct shipping services to the Pilbara,” says John Freimanis, Project Director Lumsden Point, Pilbara Ports.
“Following a competitive process, we were impressed by Konecranes’ customer focus and reliable performance. Pilbara Ports is excited to partner with Konecranes to tailor this high-performance infrastructure to the unique needs of Port Hedland.”
The cranes come equipped with a Tandem-lift Assistant, enhancing safety and precision when handling heavy or oversized loads using both cranes. Performance is ensured through a combination of a condition-based maintenance system, Konecranes TRUCONNECT remote monitoring and a spare parts package that can be quickly accessed.
“Once again, we see our material handling equipment being entrusted to support a vital link in the global economy. Being selected to support the world’s largest bulk export port authority is a great honor for Konecranes. We look forward to helping Pilbara Ports meet its productivity and sustainability goals,” says Holger Wagner, Regional Sales Manager at Konecranes.
This contract is part of Ecolifting, Konecranes’ vision to increase its handprint – meaning the beneficial environmental impact that can be achieved with our product and service portfolio – while reducing customers’ carbon footprints. From eco-optimizing diesel drives, to hybridization and fully-electrified fleets, we will continue to do more with less.
A strong focus on customers and commitment to business growth and continuous improvement make Konecranes a material handling industry leader. This is underpinned by investments in digitalization and technology, plus our work to make material flows more efficient with solutions that decarbonize the economy and advance circularity and safety.
Source: Konecranes
