Vancouver: Three of the worlds largest Super Post-Panamax Cranes are arriving at the Port of Vancouver after leaving China by ship four weeks ago. The delivery marks the fulfillment of an Agreement of Intent between TSI Terminal Systems Inc. (TSI) and crane suppliers Zhenhua Port Machinery Co. Ltd. (ZPMC) of Shanghai, signed in the presence of Premier Campbell and Canadas Ambassador to China at the World Economic Summit in Beijing in November 2003.

"The Post-Panamax cranes are capable of servicing the newest and largest container ships in the world," said Norman Stark, President and CEO, TSI. "At a cost of $24 million, they represent new investment that is possible, in part, due to the provincial governments reform of taxation practices that had been crippling marine terminals," said Stark. The cranes feature twin lifts and total lift capacity of 65 tonnes and are capable of lifting two containers at a time, while increasing productivity, efficiencies and capacity at the terminal.

The cranes are part of TSIs Balanced Growth Program and commitment to invest $60 million in equipment over the next three years to grow its capacity by 10 per cent per year. The improvements at Vanterm and Deltaport are a key part of the Ports strategy to capture increased trade with Asia and provide greater opportunities for Canadian exporters to further penetrate the Asian market.

Growth in the container sector represents significant economic opportunity for Canada and British Columbia. Container expansion at the Port of Vancouver alone is expected to generate an additional $8 billion in economic output by 2020.

The first of the three cranes arrive at Deltaport today and will be installed and operational within two months. Some of the components installed on these cranes are from BC.

TSI expects the two cranes destined for Vanterm to arrive in English Bay on Sunday, while they wait for low tide prior to passing under the Lions Gate Bridge on Monday morning. The delivery is thought to be the tallest and widest shipment ever to have passed under the Lions Gate Bridge, with only an estimated six feet between the top of the cranes and the bottom of the bridge span. The cranes will be installed at the Vanterm container terminal over the course of the following week.

Capt. Gordon Houston, President and CEO, Vancouver Port Authority said, "On behalf of the Vancouver Port Authority I would like to congratulate Zhenhua Port Machinery Co. Ltd. and TSI on the production, delivery and acquisition of the cranes. Port investment in equipment is critical to meeting the requirements of growing container volumes and our dedication to providing our shipping line customers with exceptional service."

The Port of Vancouver is Canada's largest and most diversified port, trading $29 billion in goods with more than 90 trading economies each year. Port activities generate 62,000 jobs in total with $1.6 billion in Gross Domestic Product and $3.5 billion in economic output.

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NOTE: Photos are available from the Vancouver Port Authority at the contact numbers below.

Estimated Delivery Schedule of Post-Panamax Container Cranes

April 20th Arrive Deltaport (afternoon)
April 24th Anchor English Bay (late evening)
April 25th Transit First Narrows/Lions Gate Bridge at low tide,
between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.


For more information, please contact:

Morley Strachan
Vice President, Business Development & Strategic Planning
TSI Terminal Systems Inc.
(604) 251-9360 (office)
(604) 251-9214 (fax)
(604) 649-6688 (cellular)
mstrachan@tsi.bc.ca

Anne McMullin,
Director, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs
Vancouver Port Authority
(604) 665-9069 (office)
(604) 665-9073 (fax)
(604) 218-1403 (cellular)
anne.mcmullin@portvancouver.com

For more information:
For more information on any of these stories, call 1-888 PORTVAN.
Or, send an email to:
public_affairs@portvancouver.com