Finland’s Konecranes has received an order for four Rubber Tired Gantry (RTG) cranes from Egypt’s Damietta Container & Cargo Handling Company (DCHC), following an initial order for six RTGs back in 2009.
The Konecranes RTG cranes are high-performance, 16-wheel RTGs with a 36-tonne lifting capacity, a stacking height of one-over-five, and a stacking width of seven-plus truck lane wide.
The RTGs will also be equipped with Konecranes ‘Active Load Control’ system – an integrated sway prevention and horizontal fine positioning system that significantly improves handling performance.
Admiral Mohamed Saad Zaghloul, chairman of DCHC commented: “Our operators have been very satisfied with the operational performance of the RTGs already delivered by Konecranes, and these cranes will be similar to those.”
“This repeat order from Damietta is a clear sign that we are doing some important things right,” added Antti Halonen, sales manager for port cranes at Konecranes.
Konecranes RTGs are also hydraulics-free, whether for gantry wheel turning, sway prevention or spreader micro-motions – a feature that provides higher reliability, less downtime, and lower maintenance and spare part costs, particularly at ports that experience harsh coastal weather.
The four new cranes from Konecranes are scheduled to be delivered fully-erect in mid-2016.
The port of Damietta is located on the Nile Delta and is connected of the Nile by a canal to facilitate access to inland navigation. DCHC was established in 1986 and began commercial operations in 1990, becoming one of the most important container terminals in the Mediterranean Sea.
It is jointly owned by Egypt’s Holding Company for Maritime and Inland Transportation (HCMIT) (42%), Damietta Port Authority (25%), the Canal Company for Shipping Agency (20%), Port Said Container and Cargo Handling Company (3%) and a number of other private interests (10%).