The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) is set to receive 12 brand new Ship-to-Shore (STS) gantry cranes and 40 Automated Rail-Mounted Gantry (ARMG) cranes from China at a total cost of $282 million.
Three STS cranes were received at SLPA’s East Container Terminal (ECT) in the Port of Colombo on 2 February.
The total cost of the cranes are borne by SLPA. Vessel Zhen Hua 24, is currently on route to Sri Lanka carrying the new STS cranes.
The machines have an outreach of 72 metres each, spanning to operate 26 TEU across. Back reach extends to 25 metres, with a lifting height above the rail of 55 metres and a lifting height below the rail of 18 metres. The maximum load capacity under the spreader is 65 tonnes while under the lifting beam, a crane can handle up to 75 tonnes.
READ: HPC, Misurata Free Zone ink deal for new STS gantry cranes
ECT envisages a 1,300 metres long quay to accommodate three Ultra Large Container Carriers (ULCC) for a total length of 400 metres.
The approximate terminal area is 72 hectares and the annual capacity of the terminal is 2.4 million TEU.
The terminal is the most strategically important terminal among the terminals in operation at the Port of Colombo. The port authority looks to complete developments at ECT by the end of 2025, enabling it to operate at its maximum capacity and to attract more deep draught vessels.
The delivery comes a year after the government of Sri Lanka announced a $132 million investment in port development projects.
