South Pacific International Container Terminal (SPICT), a unit of International Container Terminal Services, Inc (ICTSI) at the Port of Lae, is now capable of handling larger box ships after receiving and commissioning a pair of new ship-to-shore (STS) cranes, the largest port equipment in Papua New Guinea today.

Credit: ICTSI

Manufactured by Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industry Co. Ltd. (ZPMC) and with a reach of up to 17 rows across, the new Post-Panamax cranes can easily service vessels of up to 6,000 TEUs and is part of ICTSI South Pacific’s ongoing program to strengthen and enhance the overall operational efficiency at PNG’s leading container terminal.

Robert Maxwell, ICTSI South Pacific CEO, stressed that the new cranes will contribute to SPICT’s market leader positioning in the national and international logistics chain: ‘ICTSI is very proud to have delivered another major milestone in PNG by operating now the country’s very first ship-to-shore (STS) cranes at our SPICT facility. With this new equipment, shipping lines will gain in increased quayside productivity and therefore, enjoy shorter port stays. The terminal is ready to facilitate direct calls of larger vessels, which in turn would eventually reduce the overall logistics cost of shipping goods for both importers and exporters in PNG.

‘ICTSI is very proud to have delivered another major milestone in PNG by operating now the country’s very first ship-to-shore (STS) cranes at our SPICT facility.’

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ICTSI South Pacific has also invested into two 2.75-megawatt cummins power generators to ensure constant power supply in its Lae terminal, same as procured seven new truck trailers. Furthermore, by the end of 2023, SPICT will also receive two additional rubber tyred gantry (RTG) cranes and one empty container handler (ECH) as part of the additional yard investment to support the STS cranes increased productivity by the quayside.

To ensure the continuity of ICTSI’s corporate culture and system of operations across the Group, ICTSI South Pacific likewise sent several of its local employees for on-site training at ICTSI flagship Manila International Container Terminal in the Philippines. The trainings conducted were done to enhance their familiarity on operating the new STS cranes and improve their management and supervision capabilities.

Maxwell adds: ‘As we plant the seeds to create sustainable port cities and communities in Papua New Guinea, it is our hope that all this new equipment and capability building will further sustain the country’s economic growth and expanding international trade over the coming years. In fact, we envision the Port of Lae to become an important transshipment hub not only for the country but for the entire Pacific Islands region.’

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