Huge ports deal won

The order is one of the largest single port equipment contracts to be delivered to Bolipuertos by Kalmar and reflects the operator's rapid expansion in container and industrial handling applications at its Puerto Cabello and La Guaira locations. The parties have agreed not to disclose the exact value of the order.

The portfolio of equipment, which is scheduled for delivery starting May 2013, includes 30 Kalmar reachstackers, four empty container handlers, eight heavy forklifts, nine light forklifts, seven heavy terminal tractors, 41 medium terminal tractors and one zero emission rubber-tyred gantry crane.

The Venezuelan government is investing in its two main non-petroleum export ports Puerto Cabello and La Guairaina in a bid to increase both capacity and efficiency in cargo handling. Once the Puerto Cabello expansion project is finished, the port will have an annual capacity of 700,000 containers while La Guardia, the country's second largest container port, will handle 600,000 TEUs. Kalmar's container handling equipment will be deployed at both ports.