PT Bahtera Bahari Shipyard (PT BBS) is making waves in Indonesia’s maritime sector with the country’s first all-electric transshipment crane – the Liebherr CBG 500 E.
Scheduled for delivery in October 2025, this crane will be installed on a purpose-built barge named Leo Trans 10, also being constructed by PT BBS in Batam.
The CBG 500 E isn’t just a first for Indonesia – it’s also a big upgrade for bulk cargo handling. With a 43-metre outreach and the ability to lift 65 tonnes in grab operation, the electric crane is designed to handle large volumes of coal more efficiently. It also features:
-Electric drive system with energy recovery (thanks to Liebherr’s Licatronic system and supercapacitors)
-Rope luffing mechanism for precise control
-Liebherr’s Master V control system for diagnostics and future automation
This is a joint effort between two Indonesian sister companies:
– PT BBS, the shipbuilder designing and constructing the barge and managing the crane acquisition.
– PT Bahtera Alam Sejahtera (PT BAS), based in Kota Tanjung Pinang, will operate the crane for coal transshipment. They already use Liebherr’s older CBG 350 and CBG 360 cranes.
The investment was finalised at bauma 2025, a major construction trade fair in Munich, Germany.
Both companies see this project as part of a bigger shift towards smarter, greener operations. Selamet Widodo, President of PT BAS and PT BBS, said the crane will “significantly increase our handling capacity in the bulk handling sector,” while also raising the bar for operational efficiency.
Jonathan Weu from Liebherr added that the delivery “sends a positive signal to the market,” showing that advanced, reliable transshipment technology is within reach for Southeast Asia.