Page 37 - ar2011_hi

Reused RTGC rubber tyres by extending their life
ANNUAL REPORT 2011 // 35
GOING GREEN
“Green” rubber-tyred gantry cranes and reusing old
rubber tyres
As part of efforts to reduce port emissions and save fuel,
HIT and YICT are in the process of reconfguring their
existing diesel-driven RTGCs to run on electric power.
HIT was the frst Hong Kong terminal operator to convert
its existing diesel-driven RTGCs into electric RTGCs in
2008. YICT now has 150 electric RTGCs in operation,
while HIT has 59 hybrid RTGCs and 57 electric RTGCs.
Electric RTGCs emit up to 95% less exhaust fumes,
use up to 80% less fuel and produce about 45% less
noise than conventional RTGCs. Five such cranes were
received at HIT in July 2011, where they were deployed
in an area of the yard that was recently renovated
to accommodate hybrid and electric RTGCs. YICT has
allocated a similar area for future electric RTGCs.
In July 2011, HIT took delivery of fve new hybrid
RTGCs and took delivery of a further ten units in
December, bringing the total number of RTGCs to
146. HIT also converted fve diesel-driven RTGCs into
hybrid RTGCs last year. Hybrid RTGCs consume 40%
less fuel than diesel-driven RTGCs, produce 50% less
carbon emissions, and emit no black smoke. They also
use a smaller engine, and thus require less frequent
maintenance of the engine and electrical components.
The remaining 30 diesel-driven units will be converted
to either electric RTGCs or hybrid RTGCs in order to
achieve the goal of operating with 100% “green” cranes
by 2013.
YICT has patent rights to a unique process that allows
their terminals to extend the useful life of old RTGC
rubber tyres by three to fve years. The process involves
injecting special additives into old RTGC rubber tyres,
and reduces disposals by 150 rubber tyres every year.
YICT converted a large percentage of its diesel-driven RTGCs into
electricity-powered ones
New order of ten electric and hybrid RTGCs at HIT in July 2011