The Port Equipment Manufacturers Association (PEMA) has publicly released its latest market surveys on global container port equipment deliveries. Prepared annually, the reports are key elements in the Association’s work of providing independent intelligence on handling equipment and technology trends in the ports and terminals sector. The surveys are divided into three main equipment areas: ship-to-shore container cranes, yard container cranes and mobile port handling equipment, covering reach stackers, FLTs and terminal tractors. The latest editions include detailed global and regional delivery volumes for 2013, as well as delivery trend data for the period 2005-2013. First launched in 2008, PEMA’s equipment surveys provide a wealth of statistics and analysis covering both delivery volumes and evolving trends in equipment specifications. Produced annually each April/May, the reports are available to PEMA members and survey contributors in the year of publication and then released to the public in the following year. Key findings from the three 2013 surveys include: After a sharp rebound in 2012, ship-to-shore (STS) crane deliveries declined by 30% in 2013. During the year, 167 new units were delivered, compared with 238 the year before. For the first time in many years, Europe was the largest regional market, taking 42 new STS cranes. China took 34 new units, down from 54 in 2013. Deliveries to the rest of Asia dropped by 75%, following completion of some major projects in Korea during 2012. Latin America accounted for 13% of the market, equating to 22 new STS cranes A total of 728 new yard cranes were delivered in 2013, up from 690 in 2012. Deliveries of new rubber-tyred gantry cranes (RTGs) dropped from 610 units in 2012 to 520 units in 2013. However, the rail-mounted gantry crane (RMG) segment saw dramatic growth of 145%, with 198 new RMGs delivered – the highest number ever recorded. Europe was the largest RMG market, taking 111 units, 84 of which were specifically identified as automated stacking cranes (ASCs). Of the RTGs delivered, 11% were identified as e-RTGs or variants, powered by electricity rather than diesel to reduce emissions and fossil fuel usage All mobile equipment types showed a decrease compared with 2012. Reach stackers were down 12%, with 1324 new units delivered. Laden FLTs declined 17% to 146 units. Empty FLTs dropped 5% to 671 units. Both 4×2 and 4×4 terminal tractors saw a 2% decline, at 1596 and 404 units respectively. However, terminal tractor data excludes North America, which is served by only two main suppliers and therefore does not meet PEMA’s regulatory reporting criteria. “These latest surveys are excellent examples of how PEMA is delivering on its promise to be an independent knowledge resource for the global ports and terminals sector. Our increasingly extensive range of surveys, information papers and recommendations provide the industry with unique insights into key issues facing manufacturers and the industry as a whole,” said PEMA President, Ottonel Popesco. Separately, PEMA has just published an information paper on laser technology in ports and terminals. This was the 8th publication of its kind conducted by the Association, with other papers covering areas such as container weighing, RFID, environmental technologies, container yard automation and OCR. Last year, PEMA also produced its first major standards initiative, laying out protocols for a neutral software interface between container terminal operating systems (TOS) and container handling equipment (CHE) control systems.