Kalmar straddle carriers for the Port of Durban.

South African Port Operations (SAPO), the terminal operating subsidiary of South African transport company Transnet Ltd, has ordered 25 more Kalmar straddle carriers.

In 2001, SAPO ordered 60 straddle carriers from Kalmar Industries and 53 in August 2005.

The order is made up of 10 CSC three-high stacking units and 15 CSC four-high stacking units. Delivery to SAPO's Port of Durban container handling facility is scheduled for mid-2006.

Kalmar says SAPO is expanding its container handling facility because of a significant increase in cargo volume handled at the terminal. The Port of Durban currently handles 1.8 million TEUs and by 2007 will increase capacity to 2.4 million TEUs.

The value of the order was not disclosed.

Kalmar has also opened a new 1,400 square metre service & maintenance centre at Kotka Container Terminal in Mussalo, south-eastern Finland. The centre will initially provide support to cargo handling and stevedoring company Finnsteve.