INTERNATIONAL Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) says it has placed an order for two new Liebherr LHM 400 mobile harbour cranes for the new Tartous container terminal in Syria which is scheduled to commence operations in May.

The two new mobile cranes are intended to equip the facility with specialised over the quay container handling power, work which has traditionally been undertaken by geared vessels.

The two new units are scheduled for delivery on July 1, and will be installed at the company's wholly-owned subsidiary, the Tartous International Container Terminal (TICT). Each of the cranes has a 41-ton lifting capacity under the spreader, able to serve Panamax dimension vessels with up to 13 rows of containers on deck.

A statement from ICTSI said that the Tartous General Port Company (TGPC) will also soon purchase two ship-to-shore gantry cranes, which are expected to be delivered in 2008.

ICTSI signed a 10-year concession to operate the Tartous container terminal at the end of November 2006. Featuring a 540-metre quay and 250,000-square metre back-up area, ICTSI said plans to invest approximately US$39 million on the new container terminal over the lifetime of the concession.

ICTSI is currently investing in the terminal superstructure, landside container handling equipment, a container terminal management system incorporating user friendly client interfaces, human resources and training. It said that further investments would depend on traffic.