Pakistan’s KICT takes delivery of additional STS and RTG cranes

19 Jan 2012 - Terminal Handling, Rubber-Tyred Gantry Cranes (RTGs), Ship-to-Shore Quay Cranes

• KICT takes delivery of two super-post Panamax STS cranes and two RTGs

Karachi International Container Terminal (KICT) took delivery of two new super-post-Panamax Ship to Shore (STS) cranes and six new 1-over-6 hybrid Rubber-Tyred Gantry (RTG) cranes this week.

The delivery, worth US$25 million, has increased the Pakistan terminal’s container handling equipment fleet to 9 STS cranes and 29 RTGs.

Karachi Port Trust (KPT) Chairman Muhammad Aslam Hayat was on-site to witness the arrival of the cranes.

“The operational efficiency of a port is largely dependent on terminal capacity and state-of-the-art equipment. These new cranes are an important step towards reshaping Karachi Port into a modern gateway and trans-shipment hub for South and Central Asia,” said Hayat.

The two STS cranes were built and designed in China, measuring 72.8 meters in height, weighing 1,376 tonnes, with an outreach of 56 meters.

The cranes are capable of reaching heights of 40 meters above the quay deck and can handle loads of up to 41 metric tonnes.

“With the completion of the Phase 3 expansion, KICT has 973 metres of quay length and the additional cranes allow us to efficiently handle large volumes and better service the needs of our customers,” said KICT CEO, Keith Lau.

“They are part of a plan to upgrade terminal facilities, and as KICT is strategically located on shipping routes between Asia, America and Europe, these cranes also allow us to accommodate the growing cargo volumes passing through the port.”

KICT is located in the natural deep-water harbor of the Port of Karachi, Pakistan, which handles 80 percent of the country's international trade.