PTP receives 5 new gantries
The Star Maritime Online
The Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) has further boosted its yard and terminal operations with the delivery of five new rubber-tyred gantries (RTGs) to the port last week.
The new cranes would make yard planning more efficient and increase PTP’s container handling capacity which is forecasted to reach five million.
The RTGs were the second batch of 15 units which is supplied by Noell Crane Systems GmbH of Italy to PTP.
PTP chief executive officer Mohd Sidik Shaik Osman said that the latest delivery of the machinery increased yard planning and terminal efficiency.
“It also increases the port’s handling capacity which for phase one, will eventually be around 4.5 to five million TEUs per annum, benefiting both current and future potential customers.”
The operations to off-load the RTGs using the roro (rool-on roll off) method from its delivery barge, Zhong Ren 702 at berth six to the terminal went on smoothly.
Delivered to PTP in fully erect form, the cranes were fabricated in Xiamen, China.
The voyage of the 91.49m long Zhong Ren was assisted by the tug Hu Jui 5 which is 60.22m long and weighs 950 gross tonnes.
The RTGs have a capacity of one over five high and a width of seven containers across. Previously, PTP received the first batch of five units on Jan 23 together with two units of super post panamax quayside cranes.
With this delivery and commissioning, PTP will soon have 52 RTGs operational for its yard. The final batch of five from Noell will be delivered by end of second quarter of the year.
Another 15 units will be acquired by year-end, bringing the total number of RTGs for the port’s phase one operations to 72.
PTP currently has six berths of 360 metres each in length with a 2.16 km of lin-ear wharf.