Indian port operator orders three Generation 6 Gottwald Mobile Harbour Cranes

Bothra Shipping Services Pvt Ltd (Bothra Shipping) has ordered three all-electric Generation 6 Konecranes Gottwald Mobile Harbour Cranes for its bulk terminals at the Port of Kakinada, on the central eastern coast of India. The order was booked in September 2022 and the eco-efficient cranes will be delivered in the second quarter of 2023.

The Bothra Group of companies are international logistics service providers based in India. Its subsidiary Bothra Shipping is a major Indian port operator, delivering end-to-end customised solutions for a wide range of cargo. Bothra Group of companies owns and operates an 8 million tonnes per annum mechanised coal handling terminal (Kakinada Deep Water Port Coal Terminal) and a 6 million tonnes per annum fertilizer handling terminal (Kakinada Deep Water Port Fertilizer Terminal). With the new Generation 6 cranes it aims to increase bulk handling rate at the terminals, while reducing local carbon emissions and increasing operational performance.

Ajit Bothra, owner of the Bothra Group said, “As we looked at ways to develop our terminals, Generation 6 Konecranes Gottwald Mobile Harbour Cranes offered us the best available combination of outstanding performance with less noise and no local exhaust. This is our first equipment from Konecranes, and we are keen to see how it raises our productivity and overall eco-efficiency.”

The three new cranes are Generation 6 Konecranes Gottwald ESP.7B Mobile Harbour Cranes, with a working radius of 51m and a capacity of 125t. The berths associated with the terminals in Kakinada Seaport are well-equipped with high-tension electrical points, to which these cranes can be connected. The cranes rely on an external power supply without an onboard diesel generator set. This drive system enables higher efficiency and lowers operational costs while simultaneously reducing noise and exhaust emissions. The cranes feature a four-rope hoist system that gives them a 63t grab load curve for high bulk handling rates. In cooperation with Konecranes India, Bothra Shipping will receive on-site technical support as they integrate the cranes into their operations.

Shyam Pathak, sales director of Port Solutions at Konecranes said, “We’re excited that Bothra Shipping has chosen Generation 6 Konecranes Gottwald Mobile Harbour Cranes for their new bulk handling equipment. Terminal operators benefit from this new technology in both performance and eco-efficiency.”

This order is part of Ecolifting, Konecranes’ continuous work to decrease the carbon footprints of our customers. From eco-optimising diesel drives, to hybridisation and fully-electrified fleets, we will continue to do more with less.