The Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA) has taken another step toward cleaner operations with the addition of a new electric forklift at the East Blair One (EB1) Terminal at the Port of Tacoma – part of an ongoing effort to reduce seaport-related emissions and modernize its cargo handling equipment.
The forklift, a Kalmar model capable of lifting up to 36,000 pounds, was first delivered to EB1 as a demonstration unit about three months ago. After testing it on the terminal, staff were so impressed with its performance that they asked to buy it outright to replace an older diesel unit.
“It was a really good deal,” said Rick Atkinson, Director of Equipment Maintenance at the Port of Tacoma. “Plus, it came with the charging equipment and some other upgrades we wouldn’t get if we had bought it brand new.”
The total cost, including charging equipment, was about $236,000 – less than half the typical price of a comparable new electric forklift.
The machine is used at the breakbulk terminal primarily for unloading trailers and moving smaller cargo. Depending on the type of use, it can run for eight to ten hours on a full charge.
The new forklift has quickly won over its operators, with Port maintenance employees appreciating how quickly it’s ready to use compared to its diesel counterparts. They don’t have to wait for the engine to warm up to heat the cab or defrost the windows; it’s ready to go right away.
Because it’s much quieter than a diesel unit, staff added motion alarms that sound whenever the forklift moves. They also added a new lift carriage and longer forks to better suit the needs of the breakbulk facility.
Operators appreciated being able to try out a previously owned unit to evaluate the features and decide what they want included in future purchases, as this is the first of several new electric forklifts planned for NWSA terminals.
The NWSA recently received authorization from its managing members to use $850,000 in Port Electrification Grant funding from the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to purchase additional zero-emission cargo handling equipment to be used at EB1. Atkinson is hoping to purchase three more forklifts with the funds.
The purchases are guided by the Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy, a collaboration between the Ports of Seattle, Tacoma, and Vancouver, BC, aimed at phasing out emissions from all seaport-related activities by 2050.
“At the end of an asset’s life, our preference is always to replace it with a zero-emission equivalent,” said Graham VanderSchelden, NWSA Environmental Project Manager. “If we can find equipment that is within our budget and does the same job as something run on fossil fuels, we want to pursue that.”
In addition to forklifts, the Port and NWSA have been expanding their use of electric cargo handling equipment to include electric yard trucks, switching to renewable diesel, and installing shore power at container terminals to further cut emissions from port operations.