The world’s first LED floodlit crane is working in Valencia

In keeping with its EMAS environmental management system, Grup TCB’s container terminal subsidiary TCV Stevedoring Company in the Port of Valencia has just implemented the world’s first Super post-Panamax quay crane to be lit entirely with LED technology that was developed and provided by Ingineria de Aplicaciones Energeticas S.l., (EDAE).

TCV’s new gantry crane, capable of working vessels up to 14,000 teu capacity, is lit by LED floodlights at several power ratings up to 400 watts, located at various heights up to 68 m depending on specific lighting needs. It also has 10 and 22 watt LED tubes with vibration damping technology for transit areas and technical rooms on the crane. As a result TCV, together with EDAE, have increased the useful life, savings and return on investment associated with this type of technology.

Each High Flux LED floodlight, with various different power ratings, replaces a 250, 400 or 1000 W High Pressure Sodium Vapour lamp, providing the lighting levels required at the terminal, improving light uniformity and achieving energy savings of 66%.

Changing from yellow to white light leads to increases in both safety and productivity in operations as it improves the perception of distance and therefore the speed of approach to the loading and unloading area. And adapting artificial light according to need at sunset and dawn and maintaining constant light levels, results in improved savings.

TCV has also built the system into other STS cranes to avoid the drawbacks and cost overruns caused by premature failure of the 1000 W bulbs due to vibration during movement of the vehicle carrying the container.

So far TCV has installed 58, 400 W floodlights, as well as others with lower ratings of 210 and 180 W. The 58 floodlights provide annual savings of 94 tonnes in CO₂ emissions.