The Port of Södertälje in Sweden purchased a new Liebherr mobile harbour crane, type LHM 420 in 2020. The new machine was delivered in March 2021 and is already in operation at the port. With its lifting capacity of up to 124 tonnes and its 360-degree mobility, the crane offers the port flexibility in handling a wide range of goods. In addition, the crane is fully loaded with various assistance systems that make container handling more effective and safe. Liebherr assistance systems such as the Vertical Line Finder, the Teach-In system or the Advanced Container Control make the crane a partially automated and intelligent crane. In addition, due to the proximity of the port to the city, the LHM noise insulation is installed.
Besides all the useful and efficiency-enhancing features, the special characteristic of the new machine for Sweden is its type of fuel. The machine is the first Liebherr mobile harbour crane to run on HVO diesel, which is almost emission-free. HVO Renewable Diesel is a premium fossil free diesel product made of 100% renewable raw materials, which does not release any new carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. It is produced by hydro-treatment of vegetable oils and/or organic fats. The result is a premium quality fuel with a chemical structure almost identical to regular diesel and can therefore fully replace fossil diesel. The Port of Södertälje was the first port in Sweden to convert to fossil-free fuels. Since 2016, the port uses the environmentally beneficial fuel HVO100 to run its vehicles, machinery, and cranes.
However, the port will only use the diesel engine to move the crane at the terminal. Once the crane is at the desired location, the electric motor will be used for cargo handling. The port’s electricity also comes from renewable sources, such as wind and solar power.