This Mobile Harbour Crane will be the largest of its type ever built in the world. Starting from September 2013, it will load and unload vessels with a capacity of up to 8,800 TEUs and nine-high container stacks on deck. The operating site of the crane will be the Port of Manzanillo on the Pacific coast of Mexico.

Andreas Moeller, Sales Director at Terex Port Solutions in Düsseldorf, comments on the order: “The Terex Gottwald G HMK 8410 for OCUPA is a special variant of our largest crane model and was designed with a special geometry required for handling containers on such large vessels, taking into consideration boom length, boom pivot point and viewing height for the crane operator. As a result, the crane is an excellent example of our modular design that allows us to select the right solution to satisfy the needs of our customers and their application requirements while accounting for changing conditions.”

Carlos Olivar Perez, Director at OCUPA, explains: “After having very successfully operated three Terex Gottwald cranes, we are shortly expecting delivery of a new Mobile Harbour Crane to our terminal. We were also impressed by the design of the G HMK 8410 that we have now ordered from Terex Port Solutions. With the acquisition of the largest Mobile Harbour Crane in the world, we are staying abreast of changing handling requirements arising because our customers are sending ever larger container vessels into our terminal. We are delighted that, in Terex Port Solutions, we have found a provider of port services who addresses the special challenges facing a container handling crane for vessels with 19 container rows and provides ideal technical solutions, also with respect to delivery times.”

In order to improve service levels and productivity of container operations in the area, the company will invest $250 million in new infrastructure.

The development of the new Puerto Quetzal Container Terminal will be implemented in two phases. In phase one, it will invest $120 million to build 300 metres of pier with a depth of 12.5 metres and yard area of 13 hectares. The second phase will involve the yard extension of up to 21 hectares and 540 metres of pier with a depth of 14 metres. The infrastructure will include four STS gantry cranes, a mobile harbour crane and twelve RTGs.

With the launch of the Puerto Quetzal Container Terminal, Grup TCB strengthens its presence as a leader in container terminal management, specialising in the optimisation of resources to increase the capacity of terminals which it operates. TCQ is the company’s twelfth terminal subsidiary, and the fifth in the Americas. After TCBuen (Colombia), it will be the second Grup TCB terminal on the Pacific coast.

Quetzal: a strategic port for East Asia and the US West Coast routes

Located in the municipality of San José, in the Guatemalan department of Escuintla, the Port of Quetzal started shipping activities in 1983. Thanks to its location between East Asia and the west coast of America it has developed a strategic logistics infrastructure. According to the Economic Commission of Latin America and the Caribbean, in the first half of 2012, the Port of Quetzal moved 150,799 TEUs. With this operation the Quetzal Port Authority seeks to increase the port’s competitiveness and increase the volume of cargo in line with the sustained growth of the economy in recent years.

The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Guatemala grew by 3% in 2012. According to forecasts of the Monetary Board of this Central American country, the growth will be 3.9% this year, a rate that has been already achieved in 2011. Maritime trade is an important engine for the development of the country and the main mode of transportation for import and export of products such as sugar or coffee. Additionally, Guatemala is a country bordering Mexico, an emerging power that grew by 4% in 2012.

According to Xavier Soucheiron, CEO of Grup TCB, “To incorporate this port in Guatemala to our portfolio will allow us to expand our business with large shipping companies in East Asia and the US west coast. We are very satisfied with this agreement, which represents a further step in our consolidation as a global leader in container terminals and efficient management of port infrastructure”.

Juan Jose Suarez, Director General of TCQ, says: “The experience of Grup TCB in improving the performance at port terminals, as it can be observed at its subsidiary in Colombia, is the main strength that will significantly increase TCQ´s cargo capacity at such a strategic location as Puerto Quetzal”.

The customer is EVYAP Port in Istanbul. This RTG is part of an order, received last year from EVYAP Port, for eight fully-electric Rubber Tired Gantry (RTG) cranes. EVYAP Port is a forward-thinking port operator that is investing in energy-saving solutions and emphasizing eco-efficient technology in its operations. The container terminal serves the Anatolian side of Istanbul and the regional economy of Kocaeli with its TEU capacity of 615,000.

EVYAP Port selected Konecranes to be its RTG provider due to the eco-efficiency, reliability and high quality of the cranes as well as Konecranes’ excellent reputation in the container terminal business and strong references.

The busbar-powered Konecranes RTG, also equipped with network braking, will reduce energy consumption by up to 60% and reduce local emissions by up to 95%. All of the busbar RTGs will run on electricity drawn from the local grid. They do not use hydraulics. They will be equipped with a full-size diesel generator and Konecranes Diesel Fuel Saver technology in case of electricity blackouts.

The Port Commission authorized negotiation of a contract with Konecranes for the equipment, which is part of a significant renovation under way at Barbours Cut, the Port Authority’s first container terminal. Opened in 1977, the Barbours Cut Container Terminal has grown to be one of the premier container-handling facilities in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. A planned $700 million project to modernize this critical facility will include new cranes, lights and dock improvements to provide customers more efficient cargo handling with expanded capability to handle larger ships.

Two Foreign Trade Zone matters were also approved, one for an expansion of FTZ 84, of which the Port Authority is the grantee, and one to create a new subzone. FTZ 84 is one of the largest zones in the U.S. and according to the latest report to Congress, more value passes through it than any other FTZ in the nation, exporting more than $5 billion worth of goods annually.

The Port Commission also approved the Port Authority’s fiscal year 2012 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR). External auditors Grant Thornton, LLP gave an unqualified or “clean” audit opinion of Port Authority financial records, Commission Chairman Janiece Longoria reported in her introductory remarks at the meeting. The CAFR is available on PHA’s website at http://www.portofhouston.com/financial-information-and-transparency.

Longoria recognized Executive Director Len Waterworth on his first anniversary with the Port Authority (he was named to the permanent position on April 24, 2012), noting a record year in 2012 with many achievements to take pride in.

Longoria also reported she was “very pleased” with the news that the International Longshoremen’s Association and the U.S. Maritime Alliance had agreed on a new, six-year contract.

“We couldn’t get the work done without their efforts,” she said. “We are the envy of ports in the U.S. because of our good relationship with labor.”

Longoria noted that Commissioner Jim Fonteno would be stepping down from his volunteer service as a Port Commissioner and said that she would formally recognize him at the May Port Commission meeting, as Fonteno was not present at the meeting.

Longoria also reported that the Port Authority had added the Port of Istanbul to its long list of trade partners. Longoria and Gani Aygün, president of the Port of Istanbul, signed the Memorandum of Friendship and Trade Cooperation on April 2 as part of the Turkey-Houston Business Conference organized in conjunction with the launch of Turkish Airline’s inaugural non-stop flight between Istanbul and Houston.

Concluding her remarks, Longoria said she wanted to express her optimism for the future, noting the Port of Houston’s status as the top export port for 11 years, contributing nearly $179 billion and one million jobs to the region. She thanked everyone at the table for their contributions in ensuring the port’s mandate to sustain jobs and generate economic impact.

In his monthly report, Executive Director Len Waterworth said that total tonnage at Port Authority facilities for the month of March had increased 6 percent due in large part to containers, which increased by 97,000 tons while year-to-date total tonnage of 8.7 million tons is up slightly by 2 percent.

The improvement for the year comes largely from container tonnage, with an increase of 413,000 tons or 9 percent, offset by a decline in steel of 305,000 tons or 20 percent. March operating revenues were $18.3 million, down by 7 percent over last year, given expiration of a 2012 dredge placement agreement. Year-to-date March revenue of $57.5 million reflects a $3 million or 6 percent increase, again driven by containers.

General and administrative (G&A) expenses for March were down slightly from prior year based on savings from the reorganization. Year-to-date, G&A is up slightly by $115,000.

Year to date, the Port Authority has realized $16.5 million in net income, with operations generating income of $8 million, plus $8 million in contributions and grant funds.

“For the year, cash flow from operating activities is $22 million, while total cash flow of $31 million is up by $7 million or 29 percent,” Waterworth said.

Waterworth also acknowledged the success of the Third Annual Maritime Youth Expo, which was held April 6 at the Bayport Cruise Terminal. More than 350 students attended from PHA’s maritime academies at Austin and Yates high schools, as well as students from Pasadena, La Porte and Galena Park and Sea Scouts.

The annual expo is hosted by PHA in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Harris County Pct. 2, Houston Pilots Association, Economic Alliance Houston Port Region, San Jacinto College, Texas Department of Parks & Wildlife, Texas Southern University and the West Gulf Maritime Association. The hands-on activities supplement classroom work. Waterworth congratulated Gilda Ramirez and her staff in the Community Outreach Department on the success of the event.

Also at the meeting, Marcus Woodring, Managing Director, Health, Safety, Security and Environmental, gave a safety update, noting that the International Labour Organization World Day for Safety is April 28, with a focus on the prevention of occupational diseases, the leading cause of work-related deaths.

Woodring said suggestions for improvement were being considered as a result of a safety survey conducted by DuPont STOP. In addition, Safety Coordinators have been assigned to each facility, a safety policy has been issued and a bilingual truck safety video for the two container terminals has been completed. Woodring noted that the Port Authority is currently seeking a Safety Director.

Waterworth also gave an update on new gate operations at Bayport Container Terminal. The rapid growth in containers has resulted in a critical need for improved technology, he said. While there has been a “learning curve” with the conversion of a 22-year-old system to new technology, Waterworth said the Port Authority is aware of delays and working on solutions. The new gate opened last week.

“We are setting conditions for the long-term growth of the port,” he said.