ADPC has ordered three STS cranes and 12 ASC for operations at the Khalifa Port.
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With Abu Dhabi’s Khalifa Port set for its official launch on December the 12th, operator Abu Dhabi Ports Company has announced that it has ordered three more of the largest cranes in the world.
ADPC said that is has placed fresh orders with the ZPMC yard in Shanghai for three new Ship To Shore cranes. These cranes are amongst the largest in the world and will join the six other ZPMC STS cranes serving the semi-automated, state of the art container terminal at Khalifa Port.
The order was placed on November 5th, 2012 and the cranes are scheduled to become operational on March 1st, 2014.
In addition, the company has ordered 12 new Automated Stacking Cranes for the container yard from Konecranes, suppliers of the currently operational 30 ASC cranes onsite. The first six cranes are scheduled to be delivered by January 2014, with the remainder to follow two months later.
“I am thoroughly delighted to confirm these orders as they will help the container terminal turn around bigger volumes in the future. The yard is nearly fully occupied at 70% of current capacity. It will be a fantastic sight to see not six but nine STS cranes towering above Khalifa Port,” said Joost Achterkamp, Terminal Area projects manager, Projects Unit, ADPC.
The announcement comes in the wake of confirmation that Mina Zayed’s container traffic has now been moved across to the massive Khalifa Port, ahead of the original Q1,2013 deadline. Abu Dhabi Terminals will continue the TEU operation at Khalifa Port, as they did at Mina Zayed.
HH President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al Nahyan will inaugurate the port on Wednesday, December 12, 2012.