December 02, 2008

Burma cyclone damages container terminal

Lloyd’s List reported that Myanmar’s main gateway container terminal was badly damaged in the Nargis storm this week and the international relief efforts could be hampered.

Hutchison Port Holdings which owns Myanmar International Terminals Thilawa confirmed the terminal’s cranes had been wrecked during tropical cyclone Nargis, which packed 190 kilometers per hour winds and a 3.5 meter sea surge. Mr Anthony Tam of Hutchison Port told Lloyd’s List “Equipment is badly damaged and cranes will need to be replaced. This has already been started.”

He added that, “In view of HPH’s ability to source alternative handling equipment we hope to put our port area back in operation in a reasonable time to match the time needed for removal of wrecks and other debris. Priority will be to get wharves ready for relief supplies.”

The terminal, which has five container berths totaling 1,000 meters with a depth alongside of 10 meters, is 25 kilometers from the former capital Yangon. MITT had two container quay cranes and three rubber tyred gantry cranes together with seven forklifts and three front loaders. There is also a 20,000 sq m capacity warehouse which has also been badly wrecked according to insiders.