[Hong Kong - 9th January 2001] Hong Kong's largest container port operator Hongkong International Terminals (HIT) awarded an order of three super post-panamax quayside cranes to Shanghai Zhenhua Port Machinery Co. Ltd. (ZPMC). The new cranes are set to benefit the continuing demand for high vessel productivity.

In a contract signing ceremony which was jointly organised by HIT and ZPMC, HIT's Managing Director Mr Eric Ip commented that the ceremony signified the mutual trust and cooperation between HIT and ZPMC. "ZPMC is a world famous-port machinery manufacturer who's products are in use at many major ports around the world. Though this is the first contract signed by the two companies, the reliable equipment and quality after service care that ZPMC has been providing to other HPH container terminals ensures us that we will receive the full support from ZPMC to increase our productivity and competitiveness in the industry."

Mr Eric Ip, together with HIT's Senior Manager Mr Simon Wong, ZPMC's General Manager Mr Guan Tongxian and ZPMC's mother company China Harbours Engineering (Group) Co. President Mr Liu Huai Yuan signed a contract at the ceremony.

Scheduled for delivery by the end of this year, the equipment will be installed at HIT's Kwai Chung terminal facilities. Each super post-panamax quayside crane has a 60 tons twinlift capacity and 60m of boom length, enabling it to handle 22 rows-wide super post-panamax vessels.