Pretoria – Transnet has signed an agreement with a Chinese-based company that will see it acquiring seven cranes for the Durban port.
The state-owned company signed the agreement with Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Co (ZPMC) to buy seven tandem lift ship-to-shore cranes for the Durban container terminal. The cranes will replace the terminal’s ageing infrastructure as part of the parastatal’s interventions to renew the fleet of port handling equipment to boost efficiency and productivity.
A tender process was put in place for the design, manufacturing, delivery and commissioning of the cranes for the flagship terminal, which led to the signing of the agreement.
The cranes will be manufactured in China and will be installed during the 2012/13 financial year.
The cranes are for Pier 2 of the port, which in the fiscal year ended March 2011 achieved average moves per gross crane hour of 23 due to breakdowns in port equipment (straddle carriers and cranes).
Transnet group chief executive Brian Molefe said the urgent procurement accelerated fleet renewal plan will immediately address the terminal’s performance, making Pier 2 the first terminal in Africa to operate these tandem lift cranes.
The cranes can simultaneously handle two 12m containers or four 6m containers within hoisting capability of 80 tons making the pier globally competitive.
“The purchase of the cranes will result in improved operational efficiencies and reduced service times,” said Transnet on Tuesday.
In line with Transnet’s commitment to Government’s Competitive Supplier Development Programme (CSDP), the agreement has a localisation element, which includes job creation, skills development and localisation. This will include partnering with a local partner for the manufacturing of crane spares locally and for the provision of after sales support and maintenance.
The programme, led by the Department of Public Enterprises, is an initiative designed to boost the local component of imported goods by encouraging original equipment manufacturers to partner with local suppliers.
Transnet has recently acquired 28 new diesel-electric straddle carriers, 14 of which have twin lift capability. The purchase is part of Transnet’s R110.6 billion infrastructure investment programme for the next five years. – BuaNews
