Abu Dhabi Terminals (ADT) has announced the delivery of its latest batch of Ship to Shore (STS) cranes, as part of its ongoing expansion efforts.
Abu Dhabi Terminals is the management company and operator of Khalifa Port Container Terminal (KPCT), the region’s first semi-automated terminal.
ADT says the five new cranes, each with a 73m reach, 52m height and a lifting capacity of 90tonnes, are integral to its plans that aim to increase capacity at KPCT to 5 million TEU by the end of 2020.
The STS cranes are among the largest in the world and will play a key role, according to the company, in ADT’s technologically advanced operational ecosystem at Khalifa Port, the flagship semi-automated deep-water port owned by Abu Dhabi Ports Group.
“Abu Dhabi Terminals at Khalifa Port is well-positioned to complete its expansion in record time and ahead of schedule,” captain Mohamad Juma Al Shamisi, Group CEO of Abu Dhabi Ports and chairman of Abu Dhabi Terminals, said.
ADT purchased the ultra-modern cranes from Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industry Co. Ltd. (ZMPC) in China. This milestone follows the recent arrival of a batch of automated stacking cranes which are also part of the expansion project, taking the total number of cranes at the terminal to 22.
The final phase of ADT expansion will see the terminal linked to the Etihad Rail network providing direct rail connections across the UAE and regionally.
The AED1.6 billion (US$440 million) expansion at Abu Dhabi Terminals is part of AED4 billion (US$1.1 billion) development projects underway at Khalifa Port including an AED2.2 billion (US$600 million) development of its South Quay and Khalifa Port Logistics which will expand overall capacity and boost container capacity to 9 million TEU over the next 5 years.