TWO new ship-to-shore cranes were delivered to the South Pacific International Container Terminal (SPICT) at the Papua New Guinean port of Lae.
The ZPMC post-Panamax cranes have a reach of up to 17 rows across and can service vessels of up to 6000 TEU.
According to International Container Terminal Services, SPICT’s parent company, the cranes are the largest port equipment in Papua New Guinea.
ICTSI South Pacific CEO Robert Maxwell said with the improved productivity the new cranes will bring, the Port of Lae will soon become an important transhipment hub for the Pacific Islands region.
“As we plant the seeds to create sustainable port cities and communities, it is our hope that this new equipment will further sustain Papua New Guinea’s economic growth and expanding international trade over the coming years,” he said.
ICTSI said shipping lines can expect quayside productivity gains and shorter port stays after the cranes are operational.
“The terminal will soon be able to facilitate direct calls by larger vessels operating in the major trade routes, which in turn would reduce costs for both importers and exporters in the region,” the company said.
Once the STS cranes are deployed, one of the mobile harbor cranes currently at SPICT will be transferred to Motukea International Terminal (MIT) in Port Moresby, increasing the operational efficiency for both terminals.
Earlier this year, ICTSI South Pacific has invested into two 2.5-megawatt Cummins power generators to ensure constant power supply in its Lae terminal, and procured seven new truck trailers in Lae and three units in Motukea as part of the additional investment to support the STS cranes increased productivity.
Additional equipment such as empty container handlers are expected to arrive in both terminals in 2023, same as two additional rubber-tired gantries for SPICT.
