SOLOMON Islands Ports Authority (SIPA) yesterday commissioned three container cranes worth $16million in Honiara on Tuesday.
The 45 ton Kalma reach stackers full container handler was bought from Australia.
Kalma officials, SIPA’s chief executive officer, Michael Wate, legal officer Charles Ashley, director engineering, Ronald Ivupitu, chairman of SIPA board Billy Titiulu and staff have witnessed the commissioning at the new international wharf.
Mr Titiulu said these three equipment will be added to their existing fleet of reach stackers full containers handlers.
He said this is timely addition as some of their existing fleet of heavy lift machines are now experiencing frequent breakdowns and stoppages, slowing down their ability to load and unload cargoes at their international berths both in Honiara and Noro.
Two will be used at the Honiara port while the other at Noro, Western province.
Furthermore, Mr Titiulu said this commissioning signal a new partnership with Kalmar.
He said under this partnership, besides these three equipment, they will take delivery from Kalmar within the next couple of months:
1) 1 times 10 ton reach stackers empty container handler;
2) 1 times ton twin pick empty container handler and;
3) 1 time 16 ton forklift empty container handler
Mr Titiulu said the decision to purchase Kalmar equipment in June this year, has been carefully made by the Board on the recommendations of their management team after all the boxes were ticked positively for their equipment against other suppliers of the same machines.
He said within the next few days they will expect to sign service and back up service agreement with Kalmar whilst training for their national operators are being conducted.
“With these new additions we are now on way to become adequately resourced comparable to other regional ports, in terms of equipment coverage.
“I am confident that with these new equipment, we will lift our productivity comparable to other regional ports or even higher, as we have a national team of skill and experienced stevedores who can deliver for us,” he said.
Mr Titiulu further added they expect in the next months or so the arrival of additional equipment including wharf handling equipment that his Board has approved for purchase and had already been procured by the management.
“We will continue to make further investments in our port infrastructure and facilities including our human capital to regain our reputation as one of the best ports in the region,” he added.
By EDDIE OSIFELO