Splash247: Maersk terminals plug into global charging push with Kempower

Published by Splash247

APM Terminals has signed a global framework agreement with Finnish charging technology specialist Kempower as the port operator pushes ahead with plans to electrify equipment across its container terminal network.

The three-year agreement will see Kempower supply DC fast-charging infrastructure to terminals operated by APM Terminals, supporting the deployment of battery-electric container handling equipment as part of the company’s wider decarbonisation strategy.

The terminal operator, part of the A.P. Moller-Maersk group, runs facilities in 35 countries and has identified electrification as a key element in its target of reaching net-zero emissions by 2040.

The first projects under the agreement are already underway at terminals in Yucatán, Mexico; TM2 in Morocco; and Callao, Peru, where charging systems are being installed to support the introduction of electric vehicles and terminal equipment.

While the framework agreement does not commit APM Terminals to specific order volumes, it establishes Kempower as a preferred supplier as individual terminals progress with their investment plans.

Mathias Wiklund, chief sales officer at Kempower, said reliable charging infrastructure would be critical as ports transition away from diesel-powered machinery.

“We are honoured to be part of APM Terminals’ electrification roadmap and support them with their net-zero targets,” Wiklund said.

Container terminals are increasingly turning to battery-electric equipment, including terminal tractors, reach stackers and rubber-tyred gantry cranes, as operators seek to reduce fuel consumption, lower emissions and improve local air quality.

Grant Morrison, global head of asset category management at APM Terminals, said the partnership would help create a standardised charging platform that can be deployed across multiple locations.

“Electrification is central to our pathway towards net zero by 2040, particularly as we transition diesel-powered terminal equipment to electric alternatives,” Morrison said.

The deal reflects a broader trend among global terminal operators, many of whom are investing heavily in electric cargo-handling equipment and supporting infrastructure as regulators, customers and cargo owners place greater emphasis on supply-chain emissions.

For charging providers, ports represent a growing market segment due to the increasing power demands of heavy-duty terminal equipment operating around the clock. Fast-charging systems capable of supporting continuous operations are becoming a key requirement as operators scale up electric fleets.

The agreement also strengthens Kempower’s presence in the maritime logistics sector, adding one of the world’s largest terminal operators to a customer base that already spans commercial vehicle fleets, industrial sites and public charging networks.

With pilot installations now underway on three continents, the partnership offers an early indication of how large-scale terminal electrification could develop across APM Terminals’ global footprint over the coming years.