PACECO Corp. has started commercial operations for the world’s first hydrogen fuel cell-powered Rubber-Tyred Gantry (RTG) crane at the Port of Los Angeles.

The H2-ZE RTG Transtainer Crane, developed in collaboration with MITSUI E&S and funded by Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), began operations at Yusen Terminals Inc. (YTI) on 15 May.

It is the first fully hydrogen-powered RTG crane in commercial use worldwide.

This crane reportedly operates entirely on hydrogen fuel-cell technology, achieving zero emissions without relying on the electric grid. MITSUI E&S designed and built the fuel-cell power pack (FCPP) in Oita, Japan, with Toyota Tsusho providing the hydrogen. The FCPP system can also be retrofitted to existing diesel RTGs to eliminate emissions.

The pilot project at Yusen Terminals will run for four years.

“By introducing the H2-ZE RTG Transtainer Crane, we are leading our industry in significantly reducing emissions,” said Troy Collard, General Manager of Sales at PACECO.

“We are excited to have this crane operational in Los Angeles and grateful to our partners for their support.”

Initially, the crane will operate for 16 hours daily, maintaining efficiency comparable to conventional diesel or hybrid RTG cranes while reducing noise pollution for port workers.

“The debut of this crane at the Port of Los Angeles represents a major step forward in port technology,” added Takunari Minamizono, Project Manager at MITSUI E&S.

“We are proud to showcase hydrogen fuel cell capabilities and our commitment to sustainability.”

This project is part of a broader New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization’s (NEDO) initiative demonstrating a hydrogen supply chain, from local clean production to consumption in port equipment and trucks powered by hydrogen fuel cell technology.

The large-scale production of hydrogen is becoming increasingly significant in the maritime industry. Recently, the Canadian Port of Argentia and the Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to collaborate on exporting and importing green hydrogen from Canada to Germany.