Albania's Durres port awards a five-year contract to Cargotec

CARGOTEC's unit Kalmar has been awarded a five-year equipment servicing and maintenance contract by the Port of Durres, Albania's biggest port handling 80 per cent of the country's seaborne trade.

The contract was signed by Durres Port Authority (DPA) director Eduard Ndreu, Cargotec's Kalmar Service VP Wolfgang Stoven, Kalmar Austria MD Jurgen Wurzer and Albanian Public Works Minister Sokol Olldashi.

Mr Ndreu said the contract will secure a high level of maintenance in compliance with best European practice and port staff will receive training in the most modern and innovative port maintenance services.

Mr Stoven said the contract commences in August preceded by a period during which Cargotec's technicians will establish organisation procedures and conditions ensuring high levels of occupational safety and work efficiency.

Currently, DPA's great variety of cargo handling equipment totals 155 units, encompassing electrical port cranes, mobile harbour cranes, silos, reach stackers, forklifts, tractors, wheel-loaders, spreaders, grabs and trailers together with workshop machinery required to support maintenance operations. Cargotec will be responsible for this diverse equipment's maintenance, which also includes a recently acquired Kalmar empty container handler.

The port is part of the Pan-European Transport Corridor VIII linking Albania with Macedonia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Greece and Italy. The port also serves a major industrial zone alongside the main highway to Tirana, Albania's capital. This zone has attracted many foreign investors and generates considerable business for the port.

Source: Portnews