[120412.EN.SEA] Terminals Told To Prepare Infrastructure For Coming 20,000-TEUers

SEAPORTS must be ready to handle 22,000-TEU ships now that feasibility studies have been completed on their deployment, says APM Terminals Crane & Engineering Services managing director Halfdan Ross.

"The point is that ultra-large vessels are already in service, and even larger ships will follow," he told the TOC Container Supply Chain Asia Conference in Hong Kong. "So the time to prepare the necessary terminal and quay infrastructure is now."

While no 22,000 TEUers have been ordered, feasibility studies have been completed. "So planning for infrastructure support to accommodate such vessels is a very necessary exercise for any major hub port," he said.

As of February, there were 153 containerships of 10,000 TEU or more - including 20 of Maersk's 18,000 TEU, the first of which is expected for delivery next year. There are currently 121 vessels of 10,000 TEU ships at sea.

"There are issues of structural stiffness, weight, visibility and wind load, which all must be taken into account with cranes of such dimensions, along with the question of upgrading existing equipment or installing new cranes," Mr Ross said.

Better engineering, camera-assisted, remote controlled cranes were options, he said, but the increased power needed was often unavailable at emerging market ports.

Source: HKSG.