Chu Lai port in central Vietnam deploys Doosan Vina-produced crane system

Chu Lai International Port, owned by the Truong Hai International Logistics LLC (Thilogi), in the central province of Quang Nam has commissioned a specialized crane system to increase loading and unloading capacity, improving efficiency of its logistics service chain.

Two STS (Ship to Shore) and three RTG (Rubber Tired Gantry) cranes were handed over to the port on Thursday.

The STS cranes, manufactured by South Korea’s Doosan Vina in collaboration with Thaco Industries, a subsidiary of Thaco Group, are capable of loading and unloading containers weighing 40 tons and have a reach of 40 meters, suitable for 50,000 DWT (deadweight tonnage) container ships.

Along with Liebherr cranes, they will help speed up cargo handling and shorten anchoring time at the port. Loading and unloading volume can increase from the current 40 to 100 containers per hour.

The RTG cranes, manufactured by Thaco Industries, have width equivalent to six rows of 40-foot containers and one lane for trucks, with a lifting capacity of 40 tons. They use a differential global positioning system (DGPS) to automatically orient and locate containers in the yard.

Kim Hyo Tae, CEO of Doosan Vina, said this was the company’s first cooperation project with Thilogi and Chu Lai Port. With Thilogi’s support, especially in transporting equipment by sea, the project was completed and handed over on schedule, he noted.

After the final acceptance certificate (FAC) is issued, all operations will be transferred to Chu Lai Port. The “made in Vietnam” STS axles were suitable for dock structures at ports, helping to increase loading and unloading productivity, meeting the needs of trading in the region, he added.

The STS cranes were deployed to load and unload nearly 600 containers of goods, mainly raw materials and industrial products such as spare parts, medical equipment, garments, furniture and agricultural products on to and from the SITC Hengde, which docked Thursday at Chu Lai Port.

In less than six hours, all containers were loaded onto the ship. This speed will boost international trade for businesses in industrial zones like Bac Chu Lai and Tam Thang in Quang Nam province and the Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP) in neighboring Quang Ngai province.

Synchronous investment in infrastructure and equipment was identified by Thilogi as a main solution to improve the quality of its logistics service chain.

In addition to the high-capacity crane system, the company is also investing in a large number of specialized semi-trailers to serve transportation in the port area.

Phan Van Ky, director general of Chu Lai Port, said that it was investing in a fleet of 4,000HP tractors and tugs to ensure safe transport and towing of 50,000-ton vessels in and out all day round. It was also using ePort electronic port software, electronic customs, electronic payment and PL – TOS software in bulk cargo operations, facilitating customer transactions, saving time and money, he added.