Container terminal operator Modern Terminals Ltd has ordered 10 rubber-tyred gantry cranes (RTGs) from Shanghai Zhenhua Port Machinery Co Ltd (ZPMC). The contract's value was not released.

Modern Terminals said in a statement that the RTGs would be deployed at its Container Terminal 9 (CT9) facility, which is coming on stream in phases at Kwai Chung Port.

The RTGs would have a reach of one over six high and one plus six wide, and a maximum handling capacity of 50LT under spreader for twin-lift operations. An array of advanced technology and automation features would also be incorporated, the company said.

The machines' container management system would indicate container bay row tier positions using a global positioning system. It would communicate with the terminal's control centre via a radio data transmission on vehicle-mounted terminal system for better container management and efficiency.

Container handling time would be reduced through the use of container stacking profile and spreader path optimisation systems.

Modern Terminals' managing director Erik Christensen said the RTGs were one element in an array of state-of-the-art equipment the company was deploying to create one of the most technologically advanced and efficient container handling facilities in the world.

"We are investing heavily to ensure our new berths will deliver maximum productivity, the highest safety standards and optimal levels of service to our customers," he said.

Mr Christensen said ZPMC was chosen because of the performance of 10 RTGs previously supplied by the company. The new cranes would be delivered to CT9 by mid-2004.

CT9 is the largest single terminal infrastructure project ever undertaken in Hong Kong. The first berth owned by Modern Terminals will become operational this year. When completed, Modern Terminals will own and operate four of the six berths, giving the company 1,240 metres of continuous quayside frontage, plus a terminal area of 48.85 hectares.

Together with its existing facilities at Terminals 1, 2 and 5, the completion of CT9 (south) will boost Modern Terminals' throughput to 5.5 million twenty-foot equivalent units a year.