Malta-based company Motherwell Bridge Ltd (MB) has announced a successful contract to construct and commission 16 cranes for container terminals in West Africa.
The announcement was made during a visit by the Minister for the economy and investment of small business to MB Hal Far premises on March 25th.
This will be the first time that MB has extended their services out to the West African region.
According to the deal, MB will supply 12 of their latest generation rubber tyre gantry cranes (RTGs) to a container terminal in Togo, whilst the remaining four are delivered to a container terminal in Cameroon.
Specialist teams of mechanical and electrical engineers will begin works towards the end of May, with a scheduled completion time spanning over six months.
The news comes just weeks after the completion of another large scale operation in Abu Dhabi, where MB were responsible for the installation of 12 automatic stacking cranes at a key container terminal in the region.
MB managed to deliver the cranes ahead of schedule in record time.
Dr Chris Cardona, minister for the economy and investment of small business spoke highly of the company’s latest news: “While in recent years Malta has focused considerable resources on growing its service sectors, you prove here in Hal Far that manufacturing continues to make a major contribution to the economy and to internationalising the Maltese skills set.”
“What we see here is that engineering and all services related to manufacturing remain an important sector of the Maltese economy. The expertise built over two decades lives on today at MB. You have invested in technology, innovation, and training, you have enhanced your skills base and you have kept your order book healthy. This is a success story and we should all celebrate that.”
MB chairman, Steve Tarr spoke of the expansion into West Africa and the prospects that come with it: “It takes us to a new market with very distinct operational environments. Electrical and mechanical maintenance and management are core capabilities at MB.”
“This project will be an opportunity for MB to showcase Maltese engineering expertise that could also be of interest to other sectors in the region, particularly oil and gas. We are proud to be flying the flag for Malta in this part of the world.”
Since 2005, the construction company has been involved in a number of projects worldwide, delivering and installing more than 150 container terminal cranes in the process. This includes the delivery of 50 RTGs at terminals around Malta, 51 to the ports of Malaga, Valencia and Castellon in Spain.
