New electric cranes depart China bound for Tecon Santos

The cranes departed China on the 15th and are expected to arrive at the Santos quay in early January (Disclosure/Santos Brasil)

Two ship-to-shore cranes (portêineres) and eight electric RTGs (rubber-tired gantry cranes) acquired by Santos Brasil from the Chinese company ZPMC are in route to Tecon Santos aboard the vessel Zhen Hua 28. The equipment left China on the 15th and is expected to reach the Santos quay in early January.

They are part of the expansion, modernization, and decarbonization project of the Santos terminal. The investment amounts to R\$ 300 million.

The new ship-to-shore cranes feature TPS (Truck Position System) technology, a truck-positioning system that precisely defines the stopping point for vehicles during loading and unloading operations. This system is already present in the last four units received by the terminal, but with one key difference: these cranes can also be operated remotely.

Each ship-to-shore crane is 50 meters high and has a boom length of 70 meters, with the capacity to handle up to two full 20-foot containers simultaneously.

The new RTGs will join the eight electric units already in operation. They are next-generation models, enabling remote operation — a capability introduced at the terminal at the end of 2024. Another 30 electric RTGs will be acquired in the coming years, replacing the diesel-powered models.

The expansion and modernization of Tecon Santos began in 2019. By 2031, approximately R\$ 3 billion will have been invested.