Asia World Port Terminal (AWPT) invested in 14 new pieces of port equipment for the long term: this is the single largest investment in technology AWPT has made in recent years

Asia World Port Terminal (AWPT) has invested in 14 new pieces of port equipment for the long-term. These include nine SANY Rubber Tyred Gantry (RTG), one Mobile Harbour Crane (MHC) from Konecranes Gottwald, as well as two Reach Stackers (RS) and two Empty Container Handlers (ECH) from SANY. This is the single largest investment in technology AWPT has made in recent years. 

The new additions will be expected to will improve AWPT’s overall operating capacity by 33pc and containers can be stacked up to 7 high as opposed to 5 high. 

The terminal is developed, managed and operated by Asia World Port Management Company (AWPM), which said that the conglomerate is confident on the prospect of the port business and that the recent total investments “signals its strong confidence” on the economy.

The firm held a ceremony of the new equipment for the operation of Asia World Port Terminal (AWPT) on April 29.

Yangon Region has several international ports, including AWPT, Hteetan Port Terminal, Myanmar Industrial Port, Ahlone International Port Terminal and Myanmar International Terminal Thilawa (MITT).

Last year, these ports combined handled over one million containers, over 90pc of the overall capacity in Myanmar. AWPT said it managed almost 40pc of country’s total in 2017 and the terminal is preparing for a higher demand in the next few years.

“We encourage new investments and new facilities for the port. These investments allow trade and logistics to become more efficient. We endeavour to streamline the process step by step, and not only for ports,” U Thant Sin Maung, the Union Minister of Transport and Communication, said during the official ceremony.

International cargo traffic has grown annually by more than 10pc between 2004-14, with a 40pc increase between 2009-14. Law firm VDB Loi noted last February that 75pc of port terminals in Myanmar are developed by the private sector and new concessions should be awarded to the private sector to “decongest coastline ports and increase traffic capacity”. 

(The Myanmar Times: https://www.mmtimes.com/news/asia-world-port-refurbished-new-equipment.html )

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