Electric cranes exceed 80% of MacGregor’s new orders

In Horten, Norway, a maritime crane concept has taken its first step out of the digital realm. MacGregor demonstrated the smart system during the first official demonstration day of SEAMLESS, an EU-funded project developed with the University of South-Eastern Norway. The company says the test provided proof of concept for integrated digital and physical systems in real-world scenarios.

The demonstration arrives as electric cranes become a larger part of MacGregor’s order book. More than 80% of the company’s new crane orders were electric in the first half of 2026, according to the Swedish heavy-lift specialist. Over fifteen years, MacGregor says, its electric cranes have been installed on more than 600 international container ships.

The appeal is not only about propulsion. MacGregor’s MCE-series container cranes use electric servos — motors that control movement precisely — rather than traditional hydraulic drives. The company says they provide more accurate container placement, better cold-weather operation and up to 60% lower energy consumption, while eliminating hydraulic oil leakage risks.

That combination gives ports a concrete reason to consider the technology. MacGregor points to the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of New York and New Jersey, where operators are investing in cleaner and lower-carbon activity. Electric control can reduce energy use and prevent oil drips onto land and water, while the precise movement also creates a more suitable foundation for automation.

So what changes for customers? Ports can order cranes that use less energy, place loads more precisely and avoid hydraulic oil leakage risks, with benefits that matter most in cold conditions and environmentally sensitive sites. Automation is closer to practical testing than before, but MacGregor’s automation concept is still a proof of concept: CEO Jonas Gustavsson said the next task is collaborative work on international regulations and safety frameworks. The performance figures are MacGregor’s; independent testing is not cited.