Norsteve Oslo AS, operating at the new Sjursøya Container Terminal in the Port of Oslo, has awarded Kalmar Industries a service contract which includes the provision of preventative maintenance, trouble shooting, and repairs due to normal wear and tear on five Kalmar ESC 350 W straddle carriers. The comprehensive five-year contract will see Kalmar supply parts and labour service for the units – in operation since January – which have a lifting capacity of 50 tonnes and the capability to stack containers up to three high.

Kalmar’s 7th generation EDRIVE® straddle carrier is a new type of machine for the Port and Norsteve Oslo. However, Norsteve Oslo’s parent company, Finnsteve Ab Oy, operates at the Mussalo Container Terminal in the Port of Kotka with identical units, designed to meet the challenging environmental regulations common to Northern Europe. The ESC units headed to Norway will feature electrically controlled engines, which lower exhaust emissions and reduce fuel consumption, making them eco-friendly as well as cost-effective.

Eero Posti, Kalmar Contract Maintenance Manager, comments:
“The new agreement with Norsteve Oslo further strengthens Kalmar’s relationship with its long-term partner, Finnsteve. The decision to outfit Norsteve Oslo’s operations with EDRIVE straddle carriers was an obvious choice, not only so the two stevedoring companies can benefit from the technological and operational synergies created, but each will be able to implement similar operator training programs as well as share service and parts management information.”

As part of the contract, Kalmar will be using a brand new workshop facility currently being constructed by the Oslo Port Authority and due for completion in the Autumn of 2008. Norsteve Oslo’s request for an all-inclusive service agreement further displays Kalmar’s commitment to developing its contract maintenance offering by partnering with customers and adding resources on site.

Early in 2006, Kalmar opened a new 1,400 sq m service and maintenance centre at the Port of Kotka in Finland to serve its customers in the container and forest products industries. The centre mainly provides maintenance support to Finnsteve’s fleet of straddle carriers, lift trucks and terminal tractors, ensuring the cargo handling and stevedoring company has constant access to well-functioning machines.

Norway preps for higher cargo volumes
The new container terminal at Sjursøya opened for traffic in January of this year. The terminal currently has two ship-to-shore cranes with lift capacity of 40 tonnes serving a quay 305 metres long with a 12 metre depth alongside. The terminal is operated by Norsteve Oslo and has a capacity of 143,000 TEU. When the development is completed, Sjursøya container terminal is planned to have a capacity of 450,000 TEU.

The port of Oslo is undertaking its largest ever redevelopment programme and the years to come will bring major changes both to the city and the port itself. It is the largest container port in Norway with modern and efficient terminals for lo-lo and ro-ro traffic.