This past weekend, 6 new hybrid cranes arrived at Hutchison Ports group’s BEST terminal. These Shuttle Carriers are key to the terminal’s operations, as they are used for moving containers between the different areas of the facilities.

BEST terminal is primarily powered by electricity, which comes exclusively from certified renewable sources. The only equipment in the terminal still powered by fossil fuels are the Shuttle Carriers.

With the arrival of these new hybrid cranes, CO2 emissions will be reduced by up to 40% thanks to the use of a highly efficient regenerative energy system, contributing to a substantial improvement in the terminal’s energy efficiency. In this manner, BEST reaffirms its position as one of the most environmentally sustainable facilities in Europe.

Guillermo Belcastro, CEO of the company, said: “We are very proud to continue to take steps with this investment to reach our decarbonisation goals. Currently, each container passing through BEST saves 65% in emissions compared to a conventional terminal. This feature together with the largest rail terminal in the region and the electrification of the quays in 2024, allows us to provide a unique proposition in the Mediterranean.”

The decarbonisation of Shuttle Carrier equipment is part of a wide range of initiatives by the Hutchison Ports Group in Barcelona to minimise its carbon footprint, such as the installation of solar panels, the electrification of the fleet of vehicles and the electrification of the quays, among others.

Among these initiatives is the commitment to promote green corridors between maritime and land transport, encouraging the use of rail and promoting the creation of inland terminals. Over the last decade, BEST has experienced a jump in rail traffic from 3% to 20%, reaching the ratios of the large ports of Northern Europe.

Belcastro added: “Every day we work towards being the preferred partner for a sustainable supply chain.

Hutchison Ports BEST terminal is a semi-automated container terminal in the Port of Barcelona, Spain. It is the first semi-automated terminal in the Hutchison Ports Group and the most technologically advanced port development project in Spain and Southern Europe.

It can serve multiple mega-vessels simultaneously and has an eight-track railway facility, the biggest on-dock railway terminal of any port in the Mediterranean. It also has a strong commitment to sustainability and has surpassed the EU and IMO emission reduction targets by a decade. It was awarded the best terminal in Europe in 2021 by the European Sea Ports Organisation.