KCI Konecranes 50 ton rubber tyred gantry cranes at Port of Charleston

KCI Konecranes has received an order to supply 16 more rubber tyred gantry (RTG) cranes to the Port of Charleston, South Carolina, USA, between May and November, 2006.

The South Carolina State Ports Authority exercised an option for the RTGs at a cost of USD25.8 million. The additions will bring the Port of Charleston's fleet of RTGs from Hyvinkää-based Konecranes to 41. The port also owns two other RTGs.

Each Konecranes RTG has a lifting capacity of 50 tons, can stack containers in the yard one over five high and comes equipped with sway prevention and horizontal fine positioning systems.

The port authority has ordered four super-post-Panamax container cranes from Shanghai Zhenhua Port Machinery Co Ltd (ZPMC), of China, at a cost of USD33.2 million.

It has contracted with Gregory Poole Equipment Co, of Raleigh, North Carolina, USA, for conversion of 13 full container handlers to four-high stacking, two full container handlers, two empty container handlers and two lift trucks for chassis storage for USD2.6 million.

"We're committed to a strategic expansion of the Port of Charleston's container handling capabilities," Bernard Groseclose Jr, port authority chief executive officer, said in a statement. "These projects will give us new capacity and serve as the bridge to port expansion on the former Charleston Naval Complex."

The first phase of the navy base terminal is expected by 2011. Currently, in conjunction with ocean carrier customers, the port authority is evaluating designs for a three-berth 288-acre (117-hectare) terminal and possible investments for rail mounted gantry (RMG) container handling cranes and RTGs.

Container volume in Charleston increased 14 per cent to 1.97 million TEU for the fiscal year ended June 30.

KCI Konecranes manufactures reach stackers and forklifts through SMV Konecranes, which is part of Konecranes's special cranes business area.