Bulgarian port’s first order for new Konecranes Gottwald MHCs

(Posted on 03/04/25)

BMF Port Burgas AD (BMF), one of Bulgaria’s largest port operators, has ordered two Generation 6 Konecranes Gottwald ESP.9 Mobile Harbor Cranes. The order was booked in Q1 2025 and handover is expected in Q4 2025.

BMF The Port Burgas is the biggest private port operator in Bulgaria and concessionaire of Port Terminal “Burgas East-2” and Port Terminal “Burgas West” – both parts of national public Port Burgas. They are a multifunctional port terminal that offers specialised facilities for handling a vast variety of cargoes including dry bulk.

BMF and Konecranes started working together 12 years ago, when the Bulgarian port operator invested in four pre-owned Konecranes Gottwald Mobile Harbor Cranes. In 2016, two of these cranes were retrofitted with external power supplies to reduce onsite tailpipe emissions and operating costs. BMF extended this successful retrofit to its other two mobile harbour cranes in 2021.

The customer is now taking another step towards lower emissions with a first-time investment in two brand-new Konecranes Gottwald ESP.9 mobile harbour cranes. Each has a lifting capacity of 150 tonnes, bringing the handling performance of the terminal to an entirely new level. Continuing its electrification approach, BMF has opted to equip both cranes with an external power supply from the outset.

“Our existing Konecranes equipment has proven its reliability and efficiency for more than a decade – meeting our expectations every step of the way. We’re excited to now reach the milestone of investing in two brand new cranes, significantly boosting our performance in handling both project cargo and containers,” says Nikola Kosev, Project Manager at BMF.

BMF Port Burgas is expanding its equipment fleet to support growth in freight volumes. The operator has developed a new deep-water berth at its Burgas West Terminal, with increased capacity for larger vessels and heavier cargo. The investment reinforces BMF’s position as a key logistics provider for the wider Black Sea region.

“BMF’s journey from operating pre-owned cranes to investing in the latest Generation 6 models is a great example of successful growth with Konecranes. We are proud to have supported them for more than a decade, always finding the right handling and drive solutions for their needs,” says Andreas Czwalinna, Regional Sales Manager, Konecranes Port Solutions.

This contract is part of?Ecolifting, Konecranes’ vision to increase its handprint – meaning the beneficial environmental impact that can be achieved with our product and service portfolio – while reducing customers’ carbon footprints. From eco-optimizing diesel drives, to hybridization and fully-electrified fleets, we will continue to do more with less.

A strong focus on customers and commitment to business growth and continuous improvement make Konecranes a material handling industry leader. This is underpinned by investments in digitalization and technology, plus our work to make material flows more efficient with solutions that decarbonise the economy and advance circularity and safety.