Transnet orders 16 hybrid straddle carriers from Kalmar

Kalmar has signed an agreement to supply 16 hybrid straddle carriers to Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) in South Africa, continuing their collaboration on sustainable port operations.

The order, booked in Kalmar’s fourth quarter of 2025, will be delivered to TPT’s Cape Town and Port Elizabeth container terminals by the second quarter of 2026.

The new hybrid machines will mark the first such deployment in Southern Africa. Of the total, 12 will operate at the Port Elizabeth Container Terminal and four at the Cape Town Container Terminal.

TPT, which runs 16 sea-cargo terminals across the country, handles containers, vehicles, breakbulk and bulk cargo across key ports including Durban, Richards Bay, East London, Cape Town, Gqeberha and Saldanha.

Dean Moodley, General Manager of Capital Projects at TPT, said, “We are committed to continuously improving efficiency and sustainability at all our port terminals, and hybrid straddle carriers have an important role to play in supporting this commitment. The new machines will enable us to significantly reduce fuel consumption, noise and carbon emissions, all while enhancing operational excellence. Kalmar continues to be one of our valued partners in the renewal of our cargo-handling fleet.”

Kalmar’s Head of Global Sales for Horizontal Transportation, Karri Keskinen, said, “Kalmar is a true partner for TPT, supporting their journey towards more sustainable and cost-efficient cargo handling operations. We have built a strong supplier-customer relationship over many years of working together. We are delighted that TPT has chosen our proven hybrid technology to future-proof their port terminal operations.”

Kalmar, based in Helsinki, Finland, operates in more than 120 countries and employs about 5,200 people. The company recorded sales of about EUR 1.7 billion in 2024 and focuses on developing sustainable material-handling solutions for ports, terminals and logistics operations.