HHLA Container Terminal Burchardkai (CTB) in the Port of Hamburg is being further expanded.
Three additional electrified storage blocks will increase the terminal’s capacity by 6,000 TEU and promote the sustainable development of the port.
The new blocks went into operation in recent months. This means that a total of 22 electrified storage blocks are now in use at Burchardkai, increasing the existing storage capacity to a total of 45,000 TEU. Thanks to the compacted storage, the space requirement is reduced by more than 50% compared to conventional van carrier yards.
The automated container warehouse at Burchardkai consists of three storage blocks, each 42 m long and 375 m wide. Depending on their design, they can hold between 1,980 and 2,130 TEU. The three gantry cranes can drive over each other, which increases route efficiency and thus boosts productivity. Artificial intelligence optimizes the distribution of containers in the warehouse to minimize energy-intensive restacking.
Burchardkai reduces emissions
The new storage blocks adjoin the existing container warehouse to the north and are each served by three electrically operated gantry cranes. These are powered exclusively by electricity from renewable sources and help to reduceCO2 emissions. The terminal operator announced that HHLA is thus making a further contribution to its goal of achieving climate neutrality across the Group by 2040. HHLA recently reported stagnating container throughput, but profits increased last year.
“With the three new storage blocks, we are consistently continuing the modernization of our terminal,” said CTB Managing Director Ingo Witte. “The innovative systems increase space efficiency, reduce emissions and at the same time optimize operations for our customers. This not only makes CTB more efficient, but also brings us a decisive step closer to our sustainability goals.”
The comprehensive modernization of Germany’s largest container terminal is considered one of the most ambitious modernization projects in the industry. In addition to the expansion of the automated block storage facility, the focus is on converting container handling at the mega-ship berths to automated guided vehicles (AGVs) during ongoing operations. As an automated container hub, Burchardkai is a central element of Hamburg’s port infrastructure and HHLA’s European network.
