PNCT advances net-zero strategy with major terminal investment

Port Newark Container Terminal (PNCT), operated by Ports America, has unveiled a $100-million investment that combines infrastructure modernization with a major shift toward hybrid and near-zero-emission equipment. The project is part of PNCT’s strategy to increase capacity while cutting its carbon footprint.

The investment includes a $62-million fleet upgrade that introduces 35 hybrid Konecranes Noell straddle carriers, with the first 15 already operational and 20 more due by mid-2027. The expansion also comprises a $28-million maintenance facility to service the new hybrid fleet and facilitate terminal densification, and $10 million for 54 liquid propane gas (LPG) yard tractors that reduce nitrogen oxides by 99%.

The transition to hybrid equipment is expected to deliver immediate environmental gains, including a 20% reduction in fuel consumption and an 18% decrease in greenhouse gas emissions. These improvements are intended to support both operational efficiency and regional air quality.

The terminal expansion will also reshape operations over the coming years. The site will grow by 68 acres (27.5 hectares), enabling a 40% increase in throughput capacity, expanded use of intermodal rail, and the transition from a three-berth to a four-berth configuration with deeper channels.

The project follows the installation of a 7.2-megawatt solar system that now generates 50% of PNCT’s annual energy needs and has earned a 2026 Gold Award for Energy.

_{Photo: Konecranes}