Northport (Malaysia) Bhd 161224

2024 | Quarter 4

MAIN EDITOR'S NOTE HIGHLIGHTS IN BUSINESS ENGAGEMENTS CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY

Northport Inks Deal to Acquire New Quay Cranes

On 16 December 2024, Northport (Malaysia) Bhd (Northport), a member of MMC Group, 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). The agreement was signed by Fakhrul Azhar Tajudin, Northport's Chief Executive Officer and Zhu Xiaohuai, ZPMC's President. During a signing ceremony held at the Northport, senior management teams from both Northport and ZPMC were also present to witness the signing event.

The agreement reaffirms Northport's commitment in enhancing the company's 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). For the record, on 20 May 2024, Northport welcomed the MV OOCL Japan, a ULCV with a capacity of 21,413 Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit (TEUs), the largest ever container vessel to berth at the facility. Meanwhile, the other two new Quay Cranes feature an 18-container outreach, twin-lift handling capability and a lifting capacity of 55 tonnes. The ZPMC's products is set to commence in December 2024, with delivery to Northport expected in the second quarter of 2026.

"The acquisition of these 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 8 regional hubs and 28 overseas offices.