– First Generation 5 Harbour Crane for Lebanon and Follow-up Order from Qatar

Düsseldorf, 25 February 2010 – With a further order from Lebanon and a follow-up order from Qatar, Gottwald Port Technology GmbH (Gottwald) is strengthening its position in the Middle East. Beirut Container Terminal Consortium (BCTC), Lebanon, has ordered a Model 4 Mobile Harbour Crane, a G HMK 4406. Qatar Petroleum, Qatar, has opted for another Model 6 Mobile Harbour Crane, a G HMK 6407.

G HMK 4406 – Gottwald’s first Generation 5 Mobile Harbour Crane for Lebanon

The first ever Generation 5 Gottwald Mobile Harbour Crane in Lebanon started commercial operation in December 2009 in the Port of Beirut. The G HMK 4406, a variant of Model 4, is handling containers at BCTC. Two used Gottwald Mobile Harbour Cranes have been operating in the container terminal for some time.

Gottwald's Model 4, the latest addition to the Generation 5 family, is designed to be compact and highly versatile with lifting capacities of up to 100 tonnes and a maximum radius of 46 m. This means that the machine is ideally suited to the requirements of universal and special purpose terminals on the one hand and alongside vessels up to Panamax class. At the same time, Model 4 is attractive for terminals which, on account of their size and development potential, are already anticipating larger cargo-handling volumes and increasing annual operating hours for handling equipment.

“We opted for a Mobile Harbour Crane from Gottwald because we needed high-performance, economical and universally applicable handling equipment. And Gottwald has gained a good reputation in many of the world's ports, not only in terms of technology but also when it comes to service,” said Khalid Mahdy, Technical Manager of BCTC. “We are convinced that Gottwald’s Model 4 is a top-of-the-range product with regard to performance, reliability, safety, long lifetime coupled with the best possible total cost of ownership. The new crane makes us flexible and will help us to further strengthen our competitive position.”

G HMK 6407 – Follow-up Order from Qatar

The second Gottwald Model 6 Mobile Harbour Crane, a G HMK 6407, for Qatar Petroleum, started commercial operations in the Port of Al Mesaieed in December 2009. The decisive reason for the operator to opt for Gottwald was the positive experience gained with its first Model 6 Mobile Harbour Crane, a G HMK 6406, which is in operation since 2007. Both cranes are used for handling bulk and general cargo.

Gottwald's current bestseller, Model 6 of Generation 5, is a Mobile Harbour Crane for high-performance applications and high handling rates – assured by lifting capacities of up to 120 tonnes and very high hoisting speeds of up to 120 m/min. The G HMK 6407 variant which is in use at the Port of Al Mesaieed has a lifting capacity of up to 100 tonnes and a working radius of up to 51 metres. Model 6 is the preferred choice for universal and special terminals servicing container vessels up to the Post-Panamax size and bulk carriers up to capesize. The principle areas of application include high-end, high-speed container handling, also including twinlift mode and professional, continuous bulk handling. Model 6 is also well suited to terminals performing a significant number of heavy-load lifts.

“We are very happy about both orders, the first ever Generation 5 order from Lebanon and the follow-up contract from Qatar,” said Dirk Stoll Gottwald’s Regional Director Middle East. “ These orders confirm and strengthen our position in the Middle East, which has developed into a key market for us.”

About Gottwald Port Technology GmbH

Gottwald Port Technology GmbH, based in Düsseldorf, Germany and a subsidiary of Demag Cranes AG, is a manufacturer of Harbour Cranes and terminal automation technology. With more than 1,300 Mobile Harbour Cranes sold, the company is world market leader in this product sector. In the field of terminal automation, Gottwald Port Technology offers system solutions that incorporate both the company's own software and hardware. Gottwald Port Technology supplies customers in some 100 countries.