TOWNSVILLE Marine Logistics (TML) has reported a record in container handling for a Swire Shipping vessel recently at the Port of Townsville.

The stevedore said it had achieved a rate of 46 containers per hour when loading and unloading the MV Lautoka Chief, a vessel operating on Swire Shipping’s North Asia service.

The total exchange was also a record for TML, with 1760 containers handled during this port call.

For this job, TML was using the new Liebherr ship-to-shore crane at Townsville’s berth 4 container terminal and its own mobile harbour crane.

TML general manager Damien Scott told DCN, “The mobile harbour crane has the capability of lifting 125 tonnes and can twin lift full containers.

“We have been using the ship-to-shore crane for about six month, gradually increasing the productivity.

“As our guys are becoming more familiar and skilled with the new equipment, so the productivity rates have been increasing,” he said.

TML is a direct subsidiary of Korea Zinc Company. It commenced operations in 2019, providing port operation services to Sun Metals Zinc Refinery.

The company established other customer arrangements in just its first year of operation and plans to expand into other parts of Australia in conjunction with its sister company Townsville Logistics.

Port of Townsville CEO Ranee Crosby praised TML for its efforts.

“This is a fabulous achievement by TML and I’d like to congratulate everyone who played a role in helping to deliver this important milestone.

“We are extremely pleased that our $40 million investment to upgrade Berth 4 including a new ship-to-shore crane is delivering greater performance improvements and efficiencies which is important in making North Queensland competitive in growing container trade,” she said.

While its performance recently at Townsville Port is beyond its expectations, TML said it will continue to push for further productivity improvements.

“When our guys break records and perform above expectations we like to reward them, we acknowledge their achievements, so they take great pride in performing well and doing better than last time,” Mr Scott said.