Two new Panamax class ship-to-shore container quay cranes along with eight rubber-tyred gantry cranes have been commissioned at Malaysia’s government-owned Bintulu Port to expand its container handling capabilities and services.

To improve its fleet of cranes, the port awarded Harbour-Link Logistics with two contracts to supply, deliver, test and commission the eight rubber-tyred gantry (RTG) cranes in March 2011 after a tender process. Harbour-Link Logistics later delivered the equipment in two phases.

Prior to this, Bintulu International Container Terminal (BICT) was only equipped with, among others, two Post-Panamax container quay cranes and six RTG cranes.

BICT said that the addition of new equipment to its container handling fleet will serve the growing operational demands of its customers, in line with Bintulu Port’s ambition of becoming a world-class port.

Bintulu Port chief executive Dato Mior Ahmad Baiti Mior Lub Ahmad said: “We are currently reviewing the implementation of a new container terminal operating system and re-engineering the process flow. We are also currently implementing a recruitment programme to beef-up manpower requirement.”

New cranes to increase Malaysian port operations