In February, the first three remotely operated container cranes will be fully integrated into operations at the Altenwerder Container Terminal (CTA), part of the HHLA Group. By 2030, HHLA plans to replace all 14 cranes at CTA with highly automated models, with the next three units scheduled for delivery in April 2026. HHLA CEO Jeroen Eisink and Hamburg Senator for Economic Affairs, Labor, and Social Affairs Melanie Leonhard reported on the current status of the project and the next stages of modernization at the terminal site.
The new container cranes were delivered to Hamburg in December 2024 on a specialized vessel, installed at CTA, and have been undergoing intensive testing since the end of 2025. The cranes reach a height of 120 meters with their booms raised, and their boom length is approximately 146 meters, enabling them to handle vessels with a capacity of up to 16,000 TEU. Automated loading and unloading operations, as well as an OCR system for digital container registration, accelerate processes and ensure full data integration. Crane operation is completely remote; operators, who have undergone additional training, will work from the terminal’s office building.
Staff training has become a key element of the project. As part of the DigiRemote2030 program, approximately 70 container crane operators have already completed training on a specialized simulator simulating real-world operating conditions. Supervisors and cargo securing specialists are also undergoing additional training, as automation is transforming production processes. HHLA is simultaneously developing automation at other terminals. For example, Container Terminal Burchardkai has already begun handling mega-ships using AGVs, and the full transition to automated transport at the quay is planned for completion by mid-year.