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Friday, September 16, 2005
Board Approves 4 New Container Cranes
NC State Ports Authority moves Port of Wilmington expansion forward with purchase of four container cranes
WILMINGTON, NC – The Port of Wilmington will move its expansion program forward with the purchase of four 100-foot gauge container cranes under a contract approved by the N.C. State Ports Authority Board of Directors. "It is wonderful to reach this point in our growth plans, and it is a particular joy to me to be a part of this most historic time for the North Carolina State Ports Authority,” said Board Chairman, Carl J. Stewart Jr. “The crane contract represents the single largest equipment expenditure ever by the Ports Authority.” Voting unanimously in a meeting in Wilmington Sept. 16, the Board approved award of a $33.2 million contract for the construction of four new cranes to Zhenhua Port Machinery Co. (ZPMC) of Shanghai, China, for delivery in early 2007.
The four 100-foot gauge container cranes will join Wilmington’s four existing container cranes as the linchpin of Wilmington’s five-year container terminal expansion program which will double container handling capacity at the Port’s existing facility.
"The 100-foot gauge cranes, along with the planned purchase of rubber-tire gantries and improvements to the berths, will give Wilmington the capacity to handle larger, world-class vessels,” said Tom Eagar, CEO of the Ports Authority. “Our goal is to bring two additional container lines to Wilmington within the next 12 to 18 months.”
“The $9 million appropriation from the N.C. General Assembly to the Ports Authority has jump-started these unprecedented expansion plans for our State Ports, and we thank Governor Mike Easley and the members of the General Assembly for their support,” Mr. Stewart added. “Our 44.5-percent business growth over the past two years, plus the predicted doubling of international trade and corresponding demand for port capacity, bring us a window of opportunity to bring additional economic benefits, jobs and tax revenues to North Carolina through these improvements to our Ports.” 
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ABOUT THE NORTH CAROLINA STATE PORTS AUTHORITY:
North Carolina's Ports in Wilmington and Morehead City, plus inland terminals in Charlotte and the Piedmont Triad in Greensboro, link the State's consumers, businesses and industry to world markets, and serve as magnets to attract new business and industry. Port activities contribute statewide to 85,000 jobs and $299 million each year in state and local tax revenues. The proposed NC International Terminal in Brunswick County and Port expansion projects in Morehead City and Wilmington will make North Carolina a key player in international trade, and multiply related jobs and economic impact in the state.
Top trading partners are China, Venezuela, Colombia, India, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Korea, Taiwan, the United Kingdom and Turkey.
Primary exports include fertilizer, woodpulp, forest products, general merchandise, food, chemicals and metal products.
Top imports include forest products, chemicals, natural rubber, cement, scrap metal, steel, coal and general merchandise.
INFORMATION:
Karen Fox, Director of Communications (910)343-6491 (910)520-5745 Email
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