Yantian terminal opens first berth of phase 3 development

Yantian terminal opens first berth of phase 3 development    Yantian International Container Terminals inaugurated yesterday (Oct. 16) the first of four “super post-Panamax” berths which form its phase three expansion project.
   Yantian International Container Terminals, managed by Hutchison Port Holdings, also began piloting a new terminal operational control system in preparation for the simultaneous handling of four containerships of over 100,000 deadweight tons (more than 8,000 TEUs) on each of its new 16-meter-deep berths.
   In total there will be 18 container quay cranes, reaching 23 container rows wide, and 48 “one-over-five” rubber-tire gantries ashore for container stacking.
   “These berths are equipped with the world’s most advanced terminal operation equipment,” a spokesman for Yantian International Container Terminals said. The spokesman added that the quay cranes will all be capable of twin-container lifting.
   All four of the phase three berths will be operational by the end of 2005, with a total project cost of HK$6.6 billion ($850 million).