CICT invests US$10 mln in green port concept
The China International Container Terminal (CICT) at the Colombo South Harbour has invested US$10 million project to promote the green port concept, the terminal operator stated. The project initiated by the CICT is to convert its rubber-tyred gantry cranes (RTG’s) to electric powered rubber tyre gantry cranes (E-RTG’s). This project will ensure that all zero carbon emissions from the RTG operation making the CICT the only port in this region to promote the green port concept, CICT said in response to an email sent by the Business Times. Through its parent company China Merchant Harbour International (CMHI), the world’s second largest terminal operator by volume, it has been able to attract additional volumes which “previously bypassed Colombo,” CICT stated.
CMHI has a network of more than 72 terminals that allows ICT to leverage through these, which are not in competition with the Colombo port.
CICT has been able to attract a volume of 1.56 million TEUs last year compared to 686, 639 TEUs in 2014 that had contributed to the 14 per cent growth of the Port of Colombo in 2014. CICT has a capacity of 2.4 million TEUs by way of equipment and manpower and its average productivity benchmark is currently at 35 moves per hour on ultra large carrier container ships. This is considered to be one of the highest among global ports, it was stated. CICT has generated 69 per cent of its volumes by vessels larger than 10, 000 TEUs and in this regard, continues to attract the Ultra Large Carriers that provides additional volumes to both other terminals through the operation of new feeder services, it was noted.