The Hindu Business Line : Rajiv Gandhi box terminal gets new reach stacker

IN a bid to modernise the Rajiv Gandhi Container Terminal (RGCT), the Kochi Port has acquired a heavy-duty reach stacker - Contstar CS 320-5 model - at a cost of Rs 1.78 crore.

This container handling equipment, manufactured by Indital Construction Machiery Ltd, Bangalore, is capable of handling both 20 feet and 40 feet containers up to a maximum load of 42 tonnes.In a brief function held at the RGCT on Friday, the Port Chairman, Dr Jacob Thomas received the keys of the reach stacker from Mr K. Ravikumar, Managing Director of the firm. Addition of this versatile container handling equipment has given a new impetus for enhancing the productivity in handling loaded containers at RGCT, a release issued here said.

RGCT was hitherto having only two numbers heavy-duty reach stackers of 40 tonnes capacity capable of stacking loaded containers up to 4 high and two numbers light duty 8 tonnes capacity reach stackers for handling empty containers.

The reach stacker gains its versatility as it does not require any dedicated yard or path for its operation and can move on any hard surface, which has sufficient load bearing capacity. This can be utilised as a back up equipment for handling containers in the TC yards, ICD yards, reefer yards including loading and unloading of containers from trailers and railway flats. This can cater to the emergency needs in the absence of other container handling equipments.

Some of the major components such as drive axle, hydraulic components, transmission of the new reach stacker are imported and the rest are indigenously developed.