Background
Port Freeport, operating two large STS (ship-to-shore) cranes supplied by ZPMC, has faced drive-module failures on the cranes’ six drives per unit. Two drives failed in the past year but were kept operational by having spares on hand. 

Decision & Purchase
At its regular Port Commission meeting held on 25 September, the port authorised the purchase of three components for ABB drives installed in cranes 1 and 2, totalling US$98,680.85. These components comprise an ABB filter module and two different frequency converters. 

Operational Strategy: Rotation & Refurbishment
The spare modules will enable the port to install a spare in a crane, remove the used drive module, send it back to ABB for refurbishment (estimated to take six to eight weeks), then rotate it back in. The plan is to start with crane 1 in the 2025/26 budget year, and crane 2 in 2026/27.

Obsolescence Risk
ABB has confirmed that production of these specific drives will cease in 2028. After that date, refurbishment will still be possible but sourcing new modules may become more expensive and difficult. The port hopes ABB will offer a next-generation plug-and-play replacement.