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Our Bureau

A new Gottwald mobile harbour crane installed at RGCT.

Kochi , May 27

AS part of Dubai Port International Terminals ongoing activity at the Kochi port, two new Gottwald mobile harbour cranes have arrived at the Rajiv Gandhi Container Terminal (RGCT).

With 100-tonne capacity and 50-m outreach, the new cranes will be fitted with twin 20-foot spreaders. The first of these cranes will be operational by mid-July while the other will begin working immediately, thereafter, a press statement issued by the company here said.

Once the installation of these machines is complete, the two existing ship-to-shore gantry cranes will be re-fitted. This will ensure there are three quay cranes available for vessel operations at all times; currently only one is available.

The rehabilitation of the gantry cranes will be completed in the fourth quarter and is expected to increase the productivity of the terminal, the statement said.

The introduction of the new RTG cranes, gantry cranes and the rehabilitation of the existing equipment are all part of DPI's commitment to invest Rs 74 crore in the modernisation of the RGCT.

The equipment is designed to increase productivity, improve customer service and develop additional business in Kochi. DPI also has the commitment to build and operate the Vallarpadam International Container Transhipment Terminal at Kochi.

This four-year programme envisages an investment of Rs 2,200 crore which will support a significant increase in the economic development of southern region.

Vallarpadam is the largest single operator container terminal currently planned in the country and the first to operate in a special economic zone. The new terminal will make Kochi a key centre in the global economy reducing India's dependence on foreign ports to handle transhipment.

DPI will manage and subsequently transfer its operations at RGCT to the new terminal upon completion. The construction is to be completed in four years.

The first phase of the new terminal will have a capacity of one million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) with an investment of $135 million. It will consist of 600 m of quay, six super-post Panamax quay cranes and an on-dock railhead serviced by rail mounted gantry cranes.

Construction of a new four-lane bridge and highway access to the `golden quadrilateral' road network is already underway.

Vallarpadam will be expanded ahead of demand to eventually total 1.8 km of quay and at least 16 quay cranes capable of handling the largest vessels with associated yard handling equipment and a capacity of three million TEUs.

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