China’s Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Company Limited (ZPMC) has delivered a fleet of fifth generation port equipment, including rubber-tyred gantry cranes (RTGs) to government-owned General Company for Ports of Iraq. 

Ports of Iraq general manager, Engineer Farhan Al-Furtousi, explains the fleet includes 14 modern cranes - 10 RTGs and four gantry cranes.

Al-Furtousi says the introduction of the new equipment is part of the company’s move to updating infrastructure, applying automation technologies and replace old equipment with technically advanced systems.

“These cranes excel by integrating with intelligent communication systems capable of working in perfect integration with central control and management systems, which help to speed up handling processes, reduce waiting times, and improve performance in container yards,” he continues.

“This modern equipment will be operated on the turbine curbs recently prepared by the company (The Lorraine), which represents a typical integration between advanced infrastructure and smart equipment, helping to raise the operational capacity of these vital curbs.”

Iraq’s Ministry of Transport says the replacement of old equipment with Gen5 equipment indicates Ports of Iraq has “started to implement technical measures that require all companies operating within the joint operating system to adopt modern technologies”.

“This quality step indicates the entry of Iraq's ports into a new stage of logistic development, as the business movement grows and the demand for modern port services increases,” the Ministry states.