JEDDAH: The Jeddah Islamic Port (JIP) has been technologically enriched with the addition of eight Rubber-Tired Gantry (RTGs)-Yard Cranes. They have arrived at the Kingdom’s first Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) terminal at the JIP. Arriving aboard the vessel, Zhe Hua 7, the new equipment brings the total number of RTGs at the state of the art facility to 20, according to port officials.
Equipped with advanced devices, such as Crane Monitoring Systems (CMS), single and twin lifts, the cranes, manufactured by Shanghai Zhenhua Port Machinery Company (ZPMC), the world’s largest manufacturer of container cranes, are able to handle loads of up to 65 tons under the spreader. They also span seven rows plus truck lane width (24.4m) and have a 1-over-6 (8 ft 6inch) lift height (18.84m). Being the latest of their kind on the Red Sea, they confirm RSGT’s status as the forerunner at the Jeddah Port, boasting the highest international technological standards.
“RSGT seeks to redefine the port container business in Saudi Arabia, leading and supporting the Kingdom’s ongoing program of maritime and port expansion, now seen as the key driving force of economic growth,” said RSGT’s CEO, Aamer Alireza. “Our terminal will undoubtedly bestow a new status on Jeddah, as we will be the only terminal in the Red Sea with the capability of handling the next generation of super-mega vessels of 13,000 TEUs and above.”
RSGT’s long-term strategic growth plan is to spur Jeddah into becoming the hub port on the Red Sea, by adding an additional 45 percent handling capacity of 1.5M TEU per annum.
The terminal received earlier this year 6 Super Post Panamax (SPP) cranes and will implement a highly developed Terminal Operating System, Gate Automation System as well as other IT systems to ensure high productivity.
