DP World adds tandem-lift gantry cranes at Jebel Ali terminal 2

Dubai Ports World has expanded capacity at its flagship Jebel Ali terminal with the arrival of new giant tandem-lift gantry cranes, the biggest of its kind in the world, and rail mounted gantry cranes for second phase of Container Terminal 2 at the fast-growing Middle East port.

Eight new tandem-lift cranes and 20 RMGs have been delivered to the new terminal, doubling the number of tandem-lift cranes and taking the number of RMGs at the terminal to 38. Six of the tandem lifts and 18 of the RMGs have been commissioned and are operational, with the balance coming on line in the next seven to 10 days. Further new equipment will be added to the terminal in coming months, the company said.

When fully operational in the first quarter of 2009, the second phase of Container Terminal 2 will deploy 29 tandem lift cranes and 60 RMGs. The tandem-lift cranes are capable of lifting four 20-foot containers or two 40-foot containers simultaneously -- a total capacity of 80 tons, which is twice that of traditional cranes.

This new equipment will contribute to alleviating the congestion that is impacting all ports in the regions as volumes have continued to grow, said Mohammed Al Muallem, senior vice president and managing director of DP World, U.A.E. Region.

The first phase of Container Terminal 2 was launched in August 2007, which increased the capacity of Jebel Ali Port by 2 million TEUs. Once the second phase is launched in the first quarter of 2009, the total capacity of the terminal will exceed 5 million TEUs, raising the overall capacity of Jebel Ali Port to 14 million to 15 million TEUs. 

Source: American Shipper