The ICTSI subsidiary, Madagascar International Container Terminal Services Limited (MICTSL), has brought into service "a new, top-of-the-range, mobile crane", boosting quayside handling power at the company's Toamasina container terminal.

The commissioning of the new Gottwald heavy duty mobile crane, model GHMK 6407, at the Toamasina terminal, the only facility of its kind in Madagascar, represents a key step in MICTSL's plans to upgrade both container handling and berth coverage, a company statement said.

MICTSL has also acquired a Bromma twin-lift spreader for use with the new mobile crane, which is able to lift two TEU simultaneously with each weighing 25 tons. The new mobile crane offers a maximum outreach of 51 metres, which is in excess of MICTSL's current requirement of 41 metres for vessels with 13 rows of containers abeam.

The US$4 million investment in the new crane represents the latest step in a rolling investment programme undertaken by MICTSL following ICTSI's securing the terminal via a government privatisation programme in 2005.

Christian Gonzalez, MICTSL's CEO, said: "This will help us build on the consistency of operations that we have already achieved here and reduce working time. This important development area is one of a number we have addressed since acquiring the terminal a relatively short time ago, all of which are positively impacting on the conduct of Madagascar's container trade."