Augusta, March 6, 2025 – Europea Servizi Terminalistici Srl (EST) has ordered a new Konecranes Gottwald ESP.8 hybrid-drive Mobile Harbour Crane for its terminal in the Port of Augusta. The crane will further increase EST’s efficiency and enable the company to meet the needs of the growing offshore wind industry in the Mediterranean. It has a lifting capacity of 150 tonnes and is expected to be delivered by the end of the summer. The new crane will also help EST achieve its sustainability goals.
EST, a subsidiary of the Italian Shipping & Logistics Agency Srl (ISLA), recently won a 25-year concession to operate the new container terminal in Augusta, the largest port in Sicily by cargo volume. Equipped with a 5.3-meter tower extension and 65-tonne twin-lift spreaders, the crane will enhance EST’s ability to handle containers and specialized heavy cargo, such as wind energy components.
“As we scale up operations in Augusta, we’re focused on immediate efficiency gains while preparing for a fully electric future. This first investment in Konecranes hybrid equipment is perfectly aligned with our journey, enabling us to take on more complex cargo in a sustainable manner and to meet the increasing demand for our services, especially from the growing offshore wind industry in the Mediterranean,” says Pietro B. Coniglio, Managing Director of EST and ISLA.
ISLA offers comprehensive shipping and logistics services throughout Italy and beyond, with a strong focus on customized solutions for the onshore and offshore wind industry. Its subsidiary EST operates port terminals in six Sicilian ports. The company’s services include container terminal operations, ro-ro terminal operations and the handling of breakbulk, project and reefer cargo.
“The potential of Sicily, and particularly the Port of Augusta, for developing the Mediterranean offshore wind industry is enormous,” says Coniglio. “The geographical location is ideal to serve as a central hub for a large number of projects, especially in conjunction with our other port and storage facilities throughout Sicily and mainland Italy.” EST and ISLA will continue to develop the infrastructure in Augusta to meet the specific needs of this promising industry. “The investment in the modern crane was a further step towards making Sicily a central location for the development of offshore wind energy in Italy and beyond.“
EST already operates a Konecranes Gottwald Generation 5 mobile harbor crane, which has now been moved to the new Augusta terminal from Sicily’s Port of Catania. The operator’s decision to invest in the latest generation Konecranes Gottwald mobile harbor crane underscores the trust built over years of collaboration.
The hybrid drive of the Konecranes Gottwald ESP.8 Mobile Harbor Crane now on order combines a diesel engine with two ultracapacitors to reduce fuel consumption and tailpipe emissions. The crane is also prepared for an external power supply, enabling full electrification and zero onsite tailpipe emissions once the necessary infrastructure is in place at the Port of Augusta.
For further information, please contact:
Antonio Pandolfo, General Manager EST
Email: a.pandolfo@esterminal.com
Mobile: +39 339 59 48 398
