Konecranes supplies STS and RTG container handling cranes to Russian operator JSC Fourth Stevedoring Company.

Konecranes received one of its largest-ever orders last month: four ship-to-shore (STS) cranes and 10 rubber-tyred gantry (RTG) cranes from Russian operator JSC Fourth Stevedoring Company.

The value of the order is said to be over EUR40 million (USD63.5 million). Delivery will start in the third quarter of 2009.

JSC is a new customer for Konecranes' STS and RTG cranes, according to the Finnish crane manufacturer. It is part of the largest group of stevedoring companies in St Petersburg.

A container terminal under construction in JSC's territory is expected to have an annual capacity of 350,000 TEUs by 2009 when the first stage is launched. By 2011, throughput is expected to rise to 1.4 million TEUs.

"The Russian market is one of the world's fastest-growing markets," says Tuomas Saastamoinen, Konecranes's sales and marketing director for port cranes. "This order and previous orders from St Petersburg and Baltic ports over recent months confirm our leading position in the area."

The four Panamax STS container cranes load and unload Panamax-sized vessels. They can lift 50 metric tons, have an outreach of 38 meters and are equipped with Konecranes AC electrical control system. The 16-wheel RTGs can lift 50 metric tons and can stack 1-over-5 containers high and seven wide plus a truck lane.