Cargotec's Kalmar has been awarded a five-year equipment servicing and maintenance contract by the Durres Port Authority (DPA) in Albania.
The contract was signed between the Director of the Durres Port Authority, Eduard Ndreu and Wolfgang Stöven, Vice President, Kalmar Service at Cargotec, and Jürgen Würzer, Managing Director of Kalmar Austria.
The Minister of Public Works, Transportation and Telecommunication, Sokol Olldashi, and a number of government, port and company officials also attended the signing ceremony.
"The objective is to achieve the highest levels of port and terminal efficiency and economy," said Mr Stöven. He said that the contract would commence officially in August 2009. Prior to this, Cargotech's technicians will establish organisation procedures and conditions to ensure occupational safety and work efficiency.
"Initially, Cargotec will be a service and staff provider preparing and maintaining the cargo-handling equipment workshop and workshop machinery, including the management of the parts inventory," explained Mr Stöven. "As the collaboration develops, Cargotec's role will increasingly progress as the Port Authority's consultative partner working in DPA's favour while the port transforms from a primarily cargo handling entity to a well-equipped and specialised container and Ro-Ro operator."
Currently, DPA's great variety of cargo handling equipment totals 155 units, encompassing electrical port cranes, mobile harbour cranes, silos, reach stackers, forklifts, tractors, wheel-loaders, spreaders, grabs and trailers together with workshop machinery required to support maintenance operations. Cargotec will be responsible for this diverse equipment's maintenance, which also includes a recently acquired Kalmar empty container handler.
Durres is the biggest port in Albania, handling some 80 percent of the country's seaborne trade. Annual growth rates over the last decade exceeded ten percent.
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