TICT takes delivery of MHCs

Manufactured by Liebherr-Werk Nenzing GmbH in Austria, each crane has a lifting capacity of 41 tonnes under the spreader, and can handle Panamax-dimension vessels up to 13 rows of containers on deck. The cranes will provide specialised container handling capability in a country where container management has traditionally been undertaken by geared vessels. They will be utilised by TICT prior to the arrival of two ship-to-shore gantry cranes that are expected to be ordered by port authority Tartous Port General Company (TPGC), and scheduled for delivery in 2008.

ICTSI signed a 10-year concession to operate TICT in November last year, and plans to invest approximately US$39m in the new terminal over the lifetime of the concession. Other investments are underway for terminal superstructure, landside container handling equipment, a container terminal management system and human resources and training.

The Port of Tartous has experienced 12% growth in volumes over the past 10 years, and is the first port in Syria to introduce foreign expertise into its container handling operations.