Cargotec's Kalmar,  as part of a consortium, received a commendation award of USD100,000  in the Next Generation Container Port (NGCP) Challenge at the Singapore International Maritime Awards on 11 April.

The NGCP Challenge sought to identify innovative ideas on how to plan, design and operate the next generation of container ports that exemplify performance, productivity and sustainability.

Kalmar's proposal was prepared in close cooperation with Singapore Nanyang Technological University, APL Co Ltd, Fraunhofer IDM@NTU and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland.
"This was an exciting challenge, as it is about a real business case: to design the biggest, the most efficient and most sustainable terminal in the world, which can be built in the coming ten years. Our focus was to understand the key performance indicators given by the organiser and the local context. The key features in our design include an underground transportation system to separate the transshipment container movement from the vessel operation. Also, all equipment is electrical, so there are no CO2 emissions. Finally, our aim was to achieve a financially strong operation with no extreme constructions," commented Frank Kho, Vice President, Offering Development, Kalmar.

The challenge was organised by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and the Singapore Maritime Institute (SMI).
  
Seven proposals were shortlisted as finalists from a total of 56 submissions from 25 countries. The grand prize of USD1 million was awarded to a team from National University of Singapore, Shanghai Maritime University and Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Company Limited. The international judging panel comprised representatives from Singapore government agencies and the maritime industry.

Kalmar offers the widest range of cargo handling solutions and services to ports, terminals, distribution centres and to heavy industry. Kalmar is the industry forerunner in terminal automation and in energy efficient container handling, with one in four container movements around the globe being handled by a Kalmar solution.

Kalmar is part of Cargotec. Cargotec's sales totalled EUR 3.3 billion in 2012 and it employs approximately 10,500 people.