New Container Cranes Shipping to Jebel Ali Arrive in Batches

UAE – The first four of 50 Rail Mounted Gantry (RMG) cranes have arrived at DP World’s new container facility at the Jebel Ali Port, Container Terminal 3, with another four Ship To Shore (STS) quay cranes expected in the next three weeks, having already sailed from the yards of Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Company (ZPMC) in China. The port, situated 30 or so kilometres southwest of the city of Dubai, is already ranked the busiest container shipping port outside Asia (by latest figures 9th overall with six of the others situated in China). Zhenhua seem to be a favoured supplier of DP World, the company recently supplied the first two tranches of cranes to London Gateway on the banks of the Thames.

The 4 million TEU capacity Jebel Ali terminal, due to open in 2014, has 19 quay cranes on order to be installed alongside a 1,860 metre long quayside with a depth of 17 metres and which can handle four of the next generation of the world’s largest container vessels simultaneously. At 70 hectares overall the terminal yard will increase the total capacity of Jebel Ali Port to 19 million TEU, with the ability to handle ten of the ultra large container ships (ULCS) at the same time. Mohammed Al Muallem, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, DP World, UAE Region, said:

“As our customers are ordering larger vessels, they are looking at high efficiency hub ports which is Jebel Ali’s strength. Our new container terminal will further strengthen our position as the most efficient and modern gateway for cargo in the Middle East and wider region and enhance Jebel Ali’s role as an economic driver. DP World is committed to ensure that we are well placed to cater for future growth in the UAE and GCC.”

At 600 tonnes each the giant RMG’s are nearly 50 metres wide and 32 metres high and can lift single and twin TEU containers up to 50 tonnes from the trucks into a stack area of 10 containers wide and 6 containers high. Each RMG is able to cover a stack length of up to 1200 metres. Mohammed Ali Ahmed, Chief Operations Officer, DP World, UAE Region, said:

“A world-class deep-sea container terminal requires world-class cranes and skilled people to operate them. This is the lynchpin of our operations, and efficiency is becoming ever more important. Deeper drafts, wider channels and longer berths, are key but on their own are not enough to handle bigger ships. Hundreds of well trained staff will operate and maintain the cranes which are among the biggest, most modern and efficient in the world.”

Photo: The ship carrying the first tranche of RMG's sails to Jebel Ali.