BEIRUT, March 6 (Xinhua) -- The Northern Lebanese port of Tripoli received on Monday a delivery of Chinese highly sophisticated cranes and equipment which are expected to boost the port's capacity.
The delivery marks a new phase in the port's development plan through expanding its capacity to receive huge ships and compete with leading regional ports.
A ceremonial event was held at Tripoli port to unveil the newly delivered cranes and equipment in the presence of Chinese Ambassador to Lebanon Wang Kejian, former Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Head of Tripoli's Chamber of Commerce and Industry Toufic Dabboussi, Tripoli Port Director Mohammad Tamer along a number of other distinguished dignitaries.
The cranes and equipment were shipped aboard the 17,644 ton, 164-meters long and 47-meters wide "Mega Caravan," and the installation process is expected to be finalized in about 50 days.
The process will be supervised by 25 Chinese engineers to ensure the process will meet with international standards.
During the occasion, Wang stressed that "those cranes are considered among the biggest in Lebanon and among the most important Chinese mass productions exported to Lebanon."
He pointed out that "following installation of the equipment, Tripoli port will expects a substantial development of its activities in Lebanon and regionally."
As for Dabboussi, he said that "the equipment is part of the first development phase of Tripoli's port and I think the equipment will sustain the port for about four or five years. The second phase involves importing two additional heavy cranes along with eight other smaller cranes as I believe the port will reach a capacity of receiving 400 thousand containers in three years' time. In the future I think we will import double the quantity of these cranes."
As for Tamer, he said that "with the arrival of the Chinese heavy sophisticated cranes, work in the port's new container zone will be launched and we will become capable of receiving the world's largest ships, competing with the most developed and advanced regional ports."
Tamer added that the delivered equipment is "the most advanced and sophisticated equipment in the world and is similar to the ones operating in Chinese ports, or in Singapore, the United States or Rotterdam in Holland."
