Latakia, Oct 22 (SANA) Latakia port received six modern fifth-generation hybrid cranes on Thursday for Latakia International Container Terminal (LICT), in cooperation with CMA CGM Group, as part of a project to upgrade terminal equipment, expand operational capacity, accelerate container handling and improve services for vessels.
Enhancing infrastructure and operational capacity
Latakia Port Director Abdul Hamid al-Wahab told SANA that the arrival of the six cranes would strengthen the port’s readiness to handle both general cargo and containers, improve handling efficiency, reduce vessel turnaround times and enable faster, more reliable services.
Al-Wahab said the General Authority for Ports and Customs’ development vision takes into account Syria’s strategic location and regional changes. Efforts are underway to upgrade machinery and equipment, improve staff skills, modernize infrastructure and smart systems, and advance digital transformation to improve operational performance.
The new cranes will allow containers to be stacked vertically, making better use of the terminal’s available space, he said. Latakia port handled around 4 million tons of cargo during the past months of 2026.
E-RTG technology and terminal modernization
LICT Director Faisal Hweilo said the six cranes are hybrid electric rubber-tired gantry cranes (E-RTGs) and form part of the first phase of a terminal modernization project carried out in cooperation with the General Authority for Ports and Customs, in line with CMA CGM Group’s social and environmental responsibility commitments.
The cranes will speed up cargo handling, facilitate the movement of goods into and out of the terminal, and improve safety and workflow at the port, Hweilo said. The terminal previously relied on straddle carriers to move containers.
He added that the first phase is expected to be completed within the next two months, while work on the second phase is set to begin in parallel. The next phase includes offshore geotechnical studies to assess seabed soil characteristics and water depths, helping determine suitable vessel draft requirements and plan future works.
Increasing productivity and cutting emissions
Hweilo said the new cranes would increase terminal productivity, speed up vessel services and reduce congestion, allowing the port to accommodate more vessels and handle containers more quickly.
The hybrid cranes are also consistent with CMA CGM Group’s efforts to reduce emissions and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, he added.
In late September, Latakia port received another shipment of modern forklifts comprising 16 units, each with a lifting capacity of three tons, as part of ongoing efforts to modernize equipment and improve operational efficiency.
A/Dh-H.H
