Yantian International Container Terminal (YICT), southern China's leading container port, has taken delivery of nine rubber-tyred gantry (RTG) cranes from Zhenhua Port Machinery Co Ltd (ZPMC).

The cranes, which arrived on June 26 after a five-day voyage from Jiangyin, are the first of 17 RTGs YICT has ordered from ZPMC.

YICT general manager Kenneth Tse said the RTGs, which stack one-over-five high, would begin work after testing and technical commissioning. He would not reveal the purchase price.

The remaining eight RTGs would be delivered this month, he said. Once the new machines are commissioned, YICT will have a total of 70 RTGs at the port.

Mr Tee said the new equipment would boost productivity at the container yard and accelerate container turnover. YICT handled its 10 millionth container in May.