MSCNewsWire understands that a Notice of Intent to Award Contracts (the Award) from the Virginia Port Authority (VPA) in the USA has been announced and awarded to Konecranes.

The Award includes the provision of 86 Automated Stacking Cranes or Automated Rail Mounted Gantry (ARMG) cranes, which are available throughout Australasia, to be delivered in phases between 2018 and 2020, with a total contract value in excess of EUR 200 million (over AUD $280 million).

The Virginia Port Authority intends to award two separate contracts, once approved by their board of commissioners. The first involves 60 Automated Stacking Cranes for Norfolk International Terminals (NIT) and the second involves 26 Automated Stacking Cranes for Virginia International Gateway (VIG).

The Konecranes ASC system offers valuable advantages in an ever-more automated industry, including high performance, reliability, accuracy, low operating costs and low energy consumption.

“Konecranes ARMGs have a light, intelligent steel structure. When this is combined with our Active Load Control (ALC) technology, the cranes deliver fast, accurate container stacking over a range of real world conditions,” says Ms Cindy Shi, Marketing Manager – Ports, Konecranes Asia Pacific, which includes Australia and New Zealand.

Konecranes ARMG cranes are part of a range of container handling equipment offered by Konecranes, including Automated Rubber Tyre Gantry (ARTG) cranes, RTG cranes, RMG cranes, Ship-to-shore Gantry (STS) cranes and straddle carriers.