Port Otago orders 10 Konecranes hybrid straddle carriers. Published on 2026-09-02 at 13:30 Konecranes has received an order from Port Otago for 10 hybrid Konecranes Noell straddle carriers for its container operations in New Zealand's South Island. The NZ$28m investment will see the machines deployed at the Port Chalmers Container Terminal, where they are expected to reduce fuel consumption compared with the port's existing diesel-powered equipment. Konecranes said the units will be delivered fully assembled by the end of August 2027. Port Otago operates 14 straddle carriers at the terminal, averaging 17 years old. Ten are diesel-powered and will be replaced by the new machines, while the remaining four are diesel-electric units averaging about 10 years old. The diesel-electric machines will be reconditioned to extend their operating lives before being replaced, with their retirement scheduled for 2031. "The straddles will use 35% less diesel - that's around 190,000 litres per year - than the 10 diesel machines and ongoing maintenance costs will be half. The new machines will also offer significantly improved up-time availability and deliver improved productivity by lifting our gross crane rate. This, in turn, will lift our service levels to shipping lines," said Port Otago Chief Executive Kevin Winders. The straddle carriers will be Konecranes Noell NSD 644 EHY models, manufactured in Germany. The units will have a 60-tonne lifting capacity and can stack containers four-high. They will be fitted with twin-lift spreaders capable of handling either two 20-foot containers or one 40-foot container. Safety and productivity features include GPS tracking, 360-degree cameras, open data transfer and integration with the terminal operating system, compatibility with Port Otago's business-intelligence systems, and inbuilt maintenance monitoring and notification. "Hybrid straddles represent 90-95% of current world-wide straddle production, and the Konecranes model is capable of being converted to fully electric or hydrogen when these alternative fuels become economically viable," the port said. Fleet management. The order also includes Konecranes' Noell Fleet Management System, which provides telemetry and operational data across the fleet. Port Otago says the system will provide real-time information on machine activity and positioning, supporting the development of routing and productivity tools as the terminal moves towards more data-led operations. "The new straddles will be connected in real-time to Port Otago's systems, providing accurate positioning and activity data points for each straddle. These features are prerequisites for the introduction of new routing software to improve productivity, reduce waste and ultimately support autonomous operations," said Winders. Winders said while the investment is significant financially, it is also significant strategically. Specifically, he explained that the condition of the terminal's mobile plant gave Port Otago a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to change the terminal's operating mode" as part of a broader review of the facility's future. "The straddle carrier replacement is just one part of that review. It dovetails into the terminal's NZ$12.5 million rail pad investment that will connect the terminal to Southern Link inland port. It also sits alongside our NZ$30 million development of Dunedin Bulk Port for log storage, and the NZ$23 million extension of the Multipurpose Wharf back in 2019," he added. The wider investment programme is focused on three priorities: enabling the port to handle larger ships, creating more landside space for growth and making the container terminal more data-led. "WorldCargo News is pleased to support Port Otago in the renewal of its container handling fleet. Its hybrid straddle carriers, digital fleet management tools and experienced service technicians in Australia and New Zealand will help deliver higher productivity, lower total cost of ownership and long-term operational reliability, says Peter Kania, Sales Director, Konecranes. Konecranes' regional service organization in Australia and New Zealand will provide local support for the fleet.

Konecranes introduces "active Yaw Control" for reach stackers. Aug 21, 2026. Konecranes has launched the "Active Yaw Control" system for its SMV 4531 reach stackers. In busy port terminals, when stacking containers 5-high, the operator in the cab often cannot see the bottom corner castings of the container. Wind loads and travel momentum can cause the suspended container to slowly rotate (yaw), making it nearly impossible to align the twistlocks with the corner castings without multiple attempts. The new system uses two "Laser Range Finders" mounted on the spreader frame. These sensors measure the distance to the corner castings of the container below. The engineering breakthrough is the "Dynamic Chassis Counter-Rotation Logic." If the system detects the container has yawed 2 degrees to the right, the ECU instantly commands the rear axle steering to turn the entire reach stacker by a calculated 2-degree offset. Instead of waiting for the operator to notice the misalignment and manually correct the spreader, the machine itself physically moves to align the load. Additionally, the system features "Sway Damping." When the boom is fully extended with a 40-ton container, the boom acts as a massive pendulum. The system monitors the boom tip acceleration. If a sway is detected, the system slightly extends and retracts the boom cylinder out of phase with the swing, canceling the kinetic energy. This active stabilization reduces container handling cycle times by 15% and completely eliminates container corner damage caused by hard drops.

Three Konecranes solutions TO boost productivity: Control System Upgrade, Extended Spreader Uptime Kit and Tire Life Extension. Keeping equipment operating safely, efficiently and with minimal downtime is essential in today's demanding port and terminal environments. Konecranes is helping customers maximise machine availability and reduce operating costs through three productivity-enhancing upgrade solutions: the Control System Upgrade, Extended Spreader Uptime Kit, and Tire Life Extension. By combining modern technology with practical maintenance improvements, these solutions help operators make smarter maintenance decisions, improve equipment reliability and keep lift trucks performing at their best! Have a look: 1. Control System Upgrade The Control System Upgrade replaces the older MDL2 electronic control unit, which is now obsolete and no longer supported, with the latest MD4 system. The upgrade provides operators with a larger, more intuitive display, improved software support and faster recovery from system faults. It also enables smarter integration of features such as reverse camera displays, giving operators greater visibility while supporting safer, more efficient day-to-day operations. Compatible with Konecranes forklifts, empty and laden container handlers, and reach stackers equipped with the older MDL2 system, the upgrade provides a practical way to future-proof equipment while reducing the risk of unexpected downtime. 2. Extended Spreader Uptime Kit Designed for reach stackers, the Extended Spreader Uptime Kit helps extend spreader service life by scheduling twistlock maintenance every 5,000 operating hours. The package includes four twistlock kits together with the required wear pads, helping operators reduce spreader-related downtime and plan maintenance more effectively. Key benefits include reduced downtime, a lower risk of twistlock-related failures, fewer maintenance interruptions and quicker servicing by ensuring essential replacement parts are readily available. The upgrade is available for Konecranes reach stackers fitted with ELME 817 Classic and ELME 817 INN spreaders, helping customers minimise unplanned maintenance while keeping operations moving. 3. Tire Life Extension The Tire Life Extension upgrade helps reduce one of the biggest operating costs for lift truck fleets - steering tyre wear. By installing a mechanical kit within the steering cylinder to limit maximum steering angle, tyre scrub is reduced, extending tyre life where tight manoeuvring is not required. The result is longer-lasting tyres, fewer tyre-related stoppages, reduced rubber waste and a lower total cost of ownership. Compatible with Konecranes forklifts, empty and laden container handlers, and reach stackers, this upgrade offers a simple but effective way to reduce maintenance costs while improving fleet productivity and sustainability. As operations increasingly embrace digital technologies to improve efficiency, reliability and safety, these three Konecranes solutions provide practical ways to enhance equipment performance while reducing downtime and operating costs. Together, they help customers make more informed maintenance decisions, improve fleet availability and maximise productivity across their operations. Contact Paterson Simons & Co. today - order from its parts team - discounts available! * Provide the serial number(s) of your lift trucks * Contact the Paterson Simons parts team via its contact form for a tailored package offer * Spreader Service Kit - Part number 57054282 * The Control System Update from MDL2 to MD4 is part of the Konecranes Productivity package and is available for all Konecranes lift trucks equipped with an MDL2 master display. As MDL2 is no longer supplied, upgrading to MD4 can help avoid long waiting times for repairs. The new MD4-based truck Control System is fully programmed by Konecranes. * Master Display IQAN MD4 * Expansion unit XS2/XA2, depending on machine type * Wiring harness and mounting kit * Software upgrade * HOW TO ORDER: * Machine model - Kit KCID * Empty handlers / Forklifts - 94216879 * Reach stackers - 94216881