Page 11 - Sphere No.22 (Aug 2008)

SPHERE 9
A WHOLE RAFT OF GREEN initiatives has been launched by Hongkong Interna-
tional Terminals (HIT), earning the company official plaudits for its increasingly
eco-friendly approach.
In Hong Kong, as in other advanced jurisdictions, there is more and more con-
cern about the environment; the public increasingly scrutinises the eco-friendly
credentials of major corporations.
HIT is taking a lead in the industry with a programme that ensures there is as little wastage, or
pollution, as possible during all stages of the terminal’s round-the-clock operations.
The most recent initiative was to deploy 17 electric rubber-tyred gantry cranes (known as
eRTGCs), the first phase of a USD18 million (HKD140 million) crane-electrification programme
that will reduce emissions at the city’s giant Kwai Tsing Container Port. HIT is the first terminal
operator in Hong Kong to deploy eRTGCs, a project that is part of an ongoing
series of initiatives to help protect the environment.
To celebrate the green efforts, HIT organised a “Green HIT” ceremony in the
container yard, attended by Edward Yau, the Secretary for the Environment, who
jointly officiated the event with HIT Managing Director Eric Ip.
The new cranes are more energy efficient, with no noxious gases or black
smoke. There is no engine maintenance which, in turn, reduces waste disposal
of lubrication oil, filters and engine parts.
Another environmentally-friendly move is to introduce hybrid versions
of eRTGCs which have lithium batteries, with the power coming from the
engine and the battery during the loading of ships and trucks. The batter-
ies are recharged while the engine is working, or idling, which means the
energy is recycled with no wastage.
In addition, HIT has switched to the cleaner ultra-low sulphur diesel, at
an annual cost of USD500,000 and introduced variable engine speeds to
reduce noise and fuel consumption.
This year will also see the installation of electronic ballasts on 1,350 crane
floodlights, amove thatwill result inenergy consumptionbeing reducedby
40 per cent. All quay crane floodlights will be switched off when idling.
A look at other areas at the HIT operation has resulted in even more
eco-friendly changes. A drainage systemnow collects emulsified grease
water generated by the maintenance workshop for off-site disposal;
petrol stations have been fitted with underground oil interceptors;
waste such as batteries and scrap metal is collected for recycling;
chemical waste is stored in a central compound; and used lubrication
oil and hydraulic oil are now recycled using dynamic oil purifiers, a
change that has cut consumption by 46 per cent annually.
New crane a real HIT! Green
Giant
Newtrends