Dec 2005 Financial News

Plipdeco buys three cranes costing US$4.2m

Dec 13, 2005

IN a bid to improve port facilities at Point Lisas, Plipdeco recently commissioned three rubber tyred gantry cranes (RTGs) at a cost of US$4.2 million.

The cranes will provide the port an opportunity to provide world class service to customers.

At the commissioning the management of the port was told by Diane Seukeran, Minister of State in the Ministry of Trade and Industry that it was their duty as owner and manager of a crucial port facility to provide the necessary support to manufacturers for their safe and secure cargo handling and management services.

Seukeran said the improvements have come at a time when critical and far reaching trade negotiations taking place with Canada, Panama, and Mexico.

Seukeran pointed out that Government was also involved in a number of free trade agreements which will result in increased activities between Trinidad and Tobago and regional states.

"A key element for success is that our local port facilities must remain committed to supporting trade and the rapid, efficient movement of goods and services," said the Minister.

Kurt Allahar, manager, Cargo Handling, at the port said the new cranes will facilitate further expansions expected to take place at the port.

These include a new container yard which is expected to go into operation before Christmas.

"And by mid-January the Terminal Operations System and ancillary services are expected to go into operation," said Allahar.

Capt Rawle Baddaloo, president of Plipdeco, said the benefits to be gained from the new crane were the optimisation of yard space, easy retrieval of containers from the container yard, faster shipping turnaround, and increased berthing space.

The RTGs were supplied by KCI Konecranes VCL Corporation, a Finland-based firm.

Raouf Ali, vice president, Operations, said the company recently entered a programme for training crane operators.

"This will help to ensure full effect of the investment," he said.

Louis B Homer
South Bureau
The Trinidad Express
Tuesday, 13th December, 2005
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_news?id=122237002