The Port of Aarhus’ expansion strategy has been developed to accommodate an annual growth of 10 to 15% in container throughput. At present, ASK handles about two thirds of the port’s 500,000 TEU container throughput utilising 17 Kalmar reachstackers at its old terminal. However, in spring 2007 it will begin operations from a new 33 hectare terminal when it will also switch to a straddle carrier system to support a further three post-Panamax ship to shore cranes operating on the new 800m quayside.

The new ESCs will be equipped with Kalmar’s Smartpath container position verification system, which receives information directly from the yard management system allowing for accurate picking and placing of containers, thus contributing to faster operations and overall productivity gains.

RMI allows for remote monitoring from either the terminal operating room or via the internet and gives the customer instant access to Kalmar specialists in the event of any problems. The result is more efficient fleet management and greater uptime, with a direct improvement on the customer’s bottom line.

The ASK straddle carriers will be capable of stacking containers three high and will incorporate AC drives to meet the strictest environmental standards. The flexibility and manoeuvrability offered by straddle carriers, as well as their 50ton capacity twin lift spreaders and Kalmar’s enhanced EDRIVE® ESC Smoothlift hoist system, will result in considerably improved quayside operations.

ASK is an important and longstanding Kalmar customer. The company, which also operates a roro terminal with 14 Kalmar terminal tractors and container movers, was the first customer to adopt the reachstacker concept more than 30 years ago.

The expansion of the Port of Aarhus, which began in 1998, will be staggered over 25 years. When the expansion is complete, the port area will cover 360 hectares, double its present size, and annual cargo handling capacity will increase to approximately 20m tons. The projected maximum water depth will be 15m alongside, compared to 14m at the existing facility.

The expansion plan will also see an increase in ASK’s container storage capacity, which currently stands at 10,000 TEU. A new rail terminal will also be brought into operation, and it is anticipated that a few reachstackers in the existing ASK fleet will be used for rail operations. The site formerly used for container handling will be developed for commercial office and residential use.

The total cost of ASK’s expansion plans is estimated to exceed 250m Danish kroner.

MJ Information No: 22316