Same again. Forth Ports orders another round of hybrid straddle carriers from Kalmar. The Edinburgh-headquartered port operator has followed up on an order from earlier this year by returning to the bar for a further trio of Kalmar machines. They’ll be deployed at the company’s Grangemouth container terminal in Central Scotland.
Kalmar has announced today (12 November) that three more machines, identical to an order for six placed at the beginning of 2025, will go into production for Forth Ports. Delivery is anticipated in Q2 2026. Like their counterparts, the machines have a stacking height of 4 and a lifting capacity of 40 tonnes. Their working life will begin at Scotland’s largest port, helping move the nine million tonnes of cargo worked through the terminal annually.
A joint decarbonisation journey
Kalmar and Forth Ports have described their relationship as a joint decarbonisation journey. That’s why the port operator has returned to the Finnish-founded manufacturer for a further fleet of three hybrid strads for Grangemouth in Central Scotland. The order was booked in Kalmar’s Q4 2025 order intake. Delivery of the machines is scheduled to be completed during Q2 2026. The new straps will join six identical machines ordered by Forth Ports Group in Q1 2025, all of which will be deployed at the company’s London Container Terminal at Tilbury.
Forth Ports manages a number of facilities on the Rivers Forth and Tay in Scotland. However, its biggest operation is the port of Tilbury on the Thames in Essex, just east of London. Grangemouth is, nevertheless, significant as Scotland’s largest port. It handles nine million tonnes of cargo each year through specialist container, liquid and general cargo terminals. Cargo includes fine food and drink, machinery, fuel, steel products, timber, paper and equipment for the oil and gas industry.
Further investment in greener technology
“This repeat order is a clear indication of the confidence that Forth Ports Group has in our industry-leading hybrid technology, which can cut fuel consumption by up to 40% compared to equivalent diesel-powered machines,” said Joel Garmory, Country Director, UK & Ireland, Kalmar. “We are delighted to have secured a repeat order in such a short space of time and pleased that we can continue to help Forth Ports take concrete steps towards decarbonising their operations without compromising on productivity.”
According to the supplier, the hybrid machines will help Forth Ports Group to significantly reduce both the fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. “Our current fleet of Kalmar straddle carriers have served us extremely well,” said Derek Knox, Regional Director Scotland, Forth Ports Limited. “We have taken the decision to further expand our investment in greener technology to help us meet our ambitious net zero targets. The new fleet of hybrid machines will support our progress towards achieving these targets by helping us to reduce local air and noise emissions as well as fuel consumption.”
Grangemouth growing
Grangemouth itself has been taking steps to improve its carbon profile. In 2021, the port’s intermodal rail handling capabilities were upgraded to handle longer and more frequent trains (see our sister service RailFreight.com). The terminal has also participated in trials of short-journey shuttle services, transferring containers by rail between the port and nearby logistics hubs.
The port is adjacent to, but not affected by, the recently announced closures at Grangemouth Oil Refinery. A rail spur runs from the port network into the refinery but it is operationally insignificant. Marine movements are separate from refinery operations.