OREANDA-NEWS. On August 03, 2009 two RTG (Rubber Tyred Gantry) cranes manufactured by Konecranes Heavy Lifting Corporation (Finland) were delivered to Ust-Luga Container terminal (ULCT). The cranes are completely built-up and ready to operate. In the coming weeks of August, 2009 ULCT will receive three more RTGs ordered for the first terminal development phase as well as two STS cranes to be delivered to ULCT in September.

The identical RTG cranes were delivered to NCC’s NUTEP terminal (Novorossiysk) earlier this year and will become operational already this month. The cranes with lifting capacity of 50 tons have the height of 1 over 5, and are 7+1 wide.

The new cable reel RTG cranes reduce environmentally harmful emissions by 95 percent as they run on electricity from the grid which is a breakthrough in terms of green technologies. Almost noiseless RTGs are equipped with regenerative units feeding excessive electricity back to the grid. Modular cable reel construction provides for subsequent switching to the twin-lift technology.

The construction process related to the first phase of ULCT development is, however, being put on hold. The main reason for same is that one of ULCT’s shareholders, Transport Group FESCO has refused to take part in further terminal investment and construction with reference to “lack of investment capital”. This position comes in conflict with the opinion of the other two shareholders of ULCT – First Quantum Group and Eurogate – both of which have confirmed their readiness to proceed with the project as planned and go live in the end of this year. The latter is not feasible at the moment in light of FESCO’s refusal to stick to the original plan.