Sennebogen fleet of 13 speeds up ship handling at Yesilyurt port

The deep-sea port lies around 15 km east of Samsun and has served since 2005 as the company’s logistics hub for scrap steel, bulk materials and general cargo moving between Türkiye, the Caucasus and Central Asia. Covering 210,000 m², the terminal offers three piers with water depths of up to 20 m, allowing large bulk carriers and container vessels to berth alongside. The quayside machines discharge and load these ships and feed raw material to the adjacent steelworks.

A fleet built up over two decades

The operation started with two Sennebogen 835 material handlers, which still take on lighter scrap duties and the unloading of smaller vessels with a reach of up to 20 m.

“We started with the SENNEBOGEN 835, later adding 870 material handlers and 880 EQ Balancers.”

— Salih Cengiz, port manager, Yeşilyurt

Four electrically driven 870 E machines with 27 m reach now serve as the port’s all-rounders, working bulk materials at the pier and loading scrap within the terminal. They carry Sennebogen’s Green Hybrid energy recovery system, which stores energy from boom movements in an additional hydraulic cylinder and releases it on the next cycle, cutting operating costs by up to 35 per cent according to the manufacturer.

For large vessels with deep holds, three 880 EQ balancer machines with 35 m reach were added. Their rear counterweight is coupled directly to the boom, balancing its movements to reduce energy demand. One of the 880 EQ units has been in service since 2007 and has passed 100,000 operating hours.

New 895 E for the heaviest cargo

The latest addition is the 895 E, the largest machine in the Sennebogen port range, fitted with a 500 kW electric motor and offering up to 40 m reach.

“As demand for even higher handling performance increased, we ultimately opted for the SENNEBOGEN 895 E.”

— Salih Cengiz, port manager, Yeşilyurt

The machine is assigned to the heaviest break bulk and bulk cargoes and is expected to lift the port’s annual throughput further. All 13 Sennebogen machines bought since 2005 remain in service, including the original pair of 835s.

Local support from Forsen

Sennebogen’s Turkish sales and service partner Forsen has looked after the fleet since the first machine arrived, handling installation, maintenance, inspections and emergency repairs.

“Forsen knows our machines, and they know our workflow. Whenever we need something, they are there. This reliable partnership is a key reason why we rely on SENNEBOGEN machines.”

— Salih Cengiz, port manager, Yeşilyurt