Europea Servizi Terminalistici Srl (EST) is making a strategic investment in port efficiency and sustainability with the acquisition of a hybrid drive Konecranes Gottwald ESP.8 Mobile Harbor Crane for the Port of Augusta, Sicily. The order, placed in Q1 2025, is expected to be delivered and commissioned by the end of summer.
EST recently secured a 25-year concession to manage Augusta’s new container terminal, which is the largest port in Sicily by cargo volume. To meet increasing demand, especially from the Mediterranean’s expanding offshore wind sector, EST has opted for this advanced crane, which offers a 150-tonne lifting capacity and is equipped with a 5.3-meter tower extension and 65-tonne twin-lift spreaders. These features will significantly enhance EST’s ability to handle containers and heavy cargo, including components for renewable energy projects.
The hybrid drive system combines a diesel engine with two ultracapacitors, reducing fuel consumption and tailpipe emissions. Additionally, the crane is designed for full electrification, allowing for zero-emission operations once the necessary power infrastructure is established at Augusta.
“As we scale up operations in Augusta, we’re focused on immediate efficiency gains while preparing for a fully electric future. This first investment in Konecranes hybrid equipment is perfectly aligned with our journey, enabling us to take on more complex cargo in a sustainable manner and to meet the increasing demand for our services, especially from the growing offshore wind industry in the Mediterranean,” says Pietro B. Coniglio, Managing Director of EST and ISLA.
This latest purchase builds on EST’s existing relationship with Konecranes, having already operated a Konecranes Gottwald Generation 5 mobile harbor crane, which has been transferred from Sicily’s Port of Catania to the new Augusta terminal. The move to invest in the next-generation crane demonstrates EST’s commitment to maintaining efficiency while adapting to evolving port operations.
“Ports are evolving and with this investment EST is keeping pace with the change. Konecranes Gottwald mobile harbor cranes are a future-proof choice for port operators looking to balance productivity and sustainability on the journey to full electrification,” says Gino Gherri, Regional Sales Manager at Konecranes.
The contract falls under Ecolifting™, Konecranes’ initiative to expand its environmental impact while reducing its customers’ carbon footprints. The program focuses on everything from optimizing diesel engines to hybridization and full electrification, helping port operators improve efficiency while reducing emissions.
With global ports increasingly prioritizing digitalization, sustainability, and efficiency, EST’s investment underscores a broader industry shift toward greener and more technologically advanced port equipment.
