From left: Northport corporate services general manager Azman Mohamed, Northport chief executive officer Fakhrul Azhar Tajudin, ZPMC president Zhu Xiaohuai and ZPMC sales and marketing management general manager Xu Sheng.
PETALING JAYA: Northport (Malaysia) Bhd, a member of MMC Group, has signed an agreement to acquire four units of super post panamax container handling ship-to-shore gantry crane (quay cranes) from Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Co Ltd (ZPMC).
In a statement, Northport said the signing seals its commitment to enhance its terminal handling capabilities to efficiently serve larger and more advanced container vessels.
“Two of these new quay cranes boast a 24-container outreach, twin-lift capability, and a lifting capacity of 65 tonnes, adding to Northport's existing cranes capable of handling ultra large container vessels (ULCV).”
On May 20, 2024, Northport welcomed the MV OOCL Japan, a ULCV with a capacity of 21,413 TEUs, the largest ever container vessel to berth at its facilities.
Meanwhile, the other two new quay cranes feature an 18-container outreach, twin-lift handling capability and a lifting capacity of 55 tonnes. Manufacturing by ZPMC is set to commence in Dec 2024, with delivery to Northport expected in the second quarter of 2026.
Northport chief executive officer Fakhrul Azhar Tajudin said the acquisition of the new quay cranes complements the ongoing upgrading of Northport’s Wharf 9, which is expected to be ready by the first quarter of 2026.
“This strategic investment will significantly enhance our handling capacity and operational efficiency, while reinforcing our commitment to technological innovation and safety,” said Fakhrul.
ZPMC is a heavy equipment manufacturer headquartered in Shanghai, China.
The company operates six production bases in Jiangsu Province, covering a total area of 6.7 million square meters with over 10 kilometres of coastline. ZPMC's business encompasses multiple sectors, including port machinery, marine heavy industries, major steel structures and offshore wind power.
ZPMC's products have been deployed in 108 countries and regions, supported by eight regional hubs and 28 overseas offices.
