Taiwanese terminal operator China Container Terminal Corporation (CCTC) will fix new cranes at its terminals in Keelung port to cater to 10,000-teu ships.
Currently, its facilities can only handle ships of up to 8,000 teu.
CCTC’s deputy general manager Tsai Te-Hsin said that the move will make its three harbours in Keelung more efficient.
CCTC was established in 1969 as containerised shipping grew worldwide. While listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange, CCTC’s significant shareholders include local freight forwarder Dah Ton Transportation and shipowner Ta Tong Marine.
Among the terminal operators of Keelung, CCTC ranks first, with a market share of 42%, having handled 447,000 teu in the first nine months of 2019. In Taichung port, CCTC is also the top-ranked among the terminal operators there, with a market share of 38%, having handled 488,000 teu in the first nine months of 2019. CCTC does not operate any facilities in Taiwan’s busiest container port, Kaohsiung, although it is contracted to handle containers for HMM and CMA CGM unit APL there.
CCTC’s three docks in Keelung have eight single overhead cranes, and two of these will be replaced with double cranes at a cost of TWD200 million (USD6.66 million) to accelerate the loading and unloading process. Liner operators using CCTC’s Keelung facility include compatriot Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation, Hapag-Lloyd, and Maersk Line.
CCTC, which did not disclose the name of the crane supplier, said that it has options to purchase two additional overhead cranes. Based on volumes at its facility in Taichung port, CCTC said that it may replace two of the six single overhead cranes there. Customers using this facility include COSCO unit OOCL and Taiwanese intra-Asia carrier TS Lines.
In the first nine months of 2019, CCTC’s revenue dipped to TWD2.12 billion, while operating profit was up 32% from the previous year, to TWD125 million. However, net profit fell 75% to TWD13.88 million.
Because of the challenges in the shipping industry, such as US-China trade tensions, global economic uncertainty, and increasing consolidation among liner operators, CCTC said it will continue to upgrade its facilities to improve efficiency and reduce labour costs.
