ZPMC wins order for straddle carriers in Jamaica

Chinese port equipment manufacturer ZPMC has secured a contract to supply eight container straddle carriers to Kingston Freeport Terminal Limited (KFTL) in Jamaica, marking its first entry into the country’s straddle carrier market.

ZPMC said that the order extends a relationship with Kingston’s port operations dating back to 2000, when ZPMC began supplying STS cranes to the terminal. It has since delivered 16 STS cranes and provided maintenance, equipment relocation and other support services. The company did not disclose further details on planned delivery dates or the value of the contract.

The terminal welcomed two Super Post-Panamax STS cranes late last year and is currently expanding its yard through the US$80m Westlands project, which will add 15 hectares of container storage space. The development is expected to increase the terminal’s handling capacity by 30%, or about 600,000 TEU, according to CEO Carlos Cabrera.

The eight straddle carriers are intended to improve container handling in the terminal yard and support KFTL’s role as a regional transhipment hub For the Caribbean, Central America and the east coasts of North and South America. KFTL is operated by CMA CGM through its subsidiary Terminal Link, under a 30-year concession from the Government of Jamaica. KFTL assumed control of the Kingston Container Terminal on 1 July 2016.

This story was originally published by World Cargo News. Read the full story at World Cargo News →