PTP said in a statement today that the fabrication of the LHM 400 Lictronic, mobile type crane from Liebherr-Werk Nenzing GMBH of Austria is scheduled to be completed in two weeks while the second mobile crane Fantuzzi Regianne of Italy will be delivered in February 2001.

LHM 400 Litronic is a multi purpose mobile crane with a maximum lifting capacity of 104 tonnes with an ability to utilise all lift handles for heavy items transfer, dry bulk, container, break bulk and general cargo handling.

PTP said the purchase of the mobile cranes is to increase the immediate capacity at the terminal.

They will further complement the 14 Super Post Panamax quayside cranes currently deployed at the wharf.

The purchase is also in response to the growing number of feeders at the port.

With an expected two million TEUs in year 2001 from Maersk Sealand volumes, Phase One of PTP has been brought forward to full completion by the end of this year and this will see a total of 2.16 km of linear wharf length backed by a 110,00 TEU-container yard.

The additional equipment purchases will assist in the port's efforts to increase productivity while handling an estimated two million TEUs this year.

At the end of Phase One by mid-2001, PTP said it would be capable of handling 4.5 million TEUs annually