(L-R) Kuah Boon Wee, PSA Southeast Asia & Singapore Terminals's CEO; Tan Puay Hin, PSA Singapore Terminals's COO; Kyung-Ho Park, Doosan Heavy's executive vice chairman; and Yong-Gyun Chung, Doosan Heavy's materials handling unit's vice president.

Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction has been awarded a USD120 million contract by the Port of Singapore for the supply of 79 rubber-tyred gantry (RTG) cranes.

Doosan says it beat "world renowned" companies in an international bidding competition to supply container cranes to the Pasir Panjar Terminal Phase 2, commissioned by PSA Corp Ltd (PSA).

The RTGs can bear loads up to 40 tons and, according to Doosan, are safer than their competitors because they are equipped with 16 wheels for enhanced stability.

Yong-Gyun Chung, vice president and head of Doosan's materials handling equipment business unit, says the competition for Port of Singapore contracts is "accordingly fierce".

"The Port of Singapore boasts the highest cargo volume in the world. That's why there is such a high demand for port cranes," Chung explains.

He adds that fuel efficiency and the RTGs' green credentials helped seal the deal.

With the first order of 45 RTGs in 1993, Doosan set a record by supplying all the RTGs operating at the Pasir Panjang Terminal, installing 42 units in 2004, 80 units in 2005 and 79 units in 2006.

The latest order will be delivered in December 2009.

As PSA expands the port to cope with increased shipping volume flowing from South East Asia and China's economic boom, Doosan expects to win more crane orders from the port operator.

Doosan has been manufacturing RTGs since the late 1970s and a spokeswoman identifies Chinese, Japanese and European manufacturers as its competitors.