12-Dec-2002

The Port of Felixstowe has announced a major new equipment investment programme. It has ordered three additional Ship-to-Shore Gantry Cranes (SSGCs) and ten new Rubber-Tyred Gantry Cranes (RTGCs) from Zhenhua Port Machinery Company (ZPMC) of Shanghai, part of the Options provided in an existing crane contract. The new cranes will be delivered in January 2004.

The new SSGCs will be the largest at the Port, and of a similar specification to the previous two cranes. Each will be capable of handling containers stowed 22-wide, and will be equipped with twin lift capability and heavy lift capacity of 85 tonnes.

The new RTGCs will be capable of lifting one container over five, and will straddle seven rows of containers plus a roadway. All of the new cranes will operate on the Port’s Trinity Terminal.

The order follows the delivery of ten RTGCs and two SSGCs for Trinity Terminal in 2002. The new shipside cranes will bring to 28 the total number at the Port. The Container Yard will be serviced by a total of 86 RTGCs.

Commenting on the investment programme, Richard Pearson, Managing Director of Hutchison Ports (UK) Limited, said:

“The new equipment represents a major commitment to improving the levels of productivity and customer service at the Port. Together with our plans to extend Trinity Terminal, this new equipment will help Felixstowe to handle the future growth in essential import and export trade, and will secure the Port’s ability to compete commercially against other European ports.”

The Trinity Terminal extension will provide an additional 270 metres of deep-water quay, enabling the Port to handle more of the latest generation of large container ships simultaneously. It will also provide 14 hectares of additional container storage space. The expansion of the Port will increase capacity by some 415,000 TEUs, to well over 3 million TEUs per annum. The new equipment will boost capacity by a further 100,000 TEUs.