Six new generation cranes arrive at Vallarpadam

A set of six rubber tyre gantry cranes (RTGs), the first consignment of the fleet of 15 units, reached the International Container Transshipment  Terminal (ICTT) at Vallarpadam on Friday.  These have been manufactured by TGPC at Abu Dhabi at a cost of $1.7 million.

The cranes will be erected at the berths of the terminal. The terminal is expected to be operational this August, according to N Ramachandra, chairman of Cochin Port Trust.

The RTGs are one of the new generation cranes. They are claimed to be 30 per cent  more energy efficient as compared to the conventional RTGs. The cranes would run on a diesel genset. They are also fitted with sensors to detect pedestrians and obstacles on the track.

The cranes are capable of lifting 41 tonne under the spreader and can handle 20, 40 and 45 feet ISO containers from the container yards to the truck and vice versa at a speed of about 25 to 30 boxes per hour.

Meanwhile, the construction of all eleven bridges on the new NH connectivity has been completed and the two lane road will also be ready to open simultaneously with the commissioning of the terminal.