FPTL Invests $10M on Wharf Upgrade

Fiji Ports Terminal Limited (FPTL) in the past four years has spent over $10 million in procuring equipment to provide quality services to their customers.
This includes the recent inclusion of three $4.3 million 45 tonne reach stackers and a seven high empty handler from world’s leading cargo equipment infrastructure Kalmar Australia Limited.
FPTL chairman Hasmukh Patel while receiving the new machines at the King’s Wharf on Monday said they were part of the company’s container handling machinery replacement plan.
“We have produced three state of the art 45 tonne reach stackers and a seven high empty handler from Kalmar at a total value of $4.3 million,” Mr Patel said.
“We will continue to purchase new machines, in our endeavour to provide quality services to our valued customers,” he said.
“The organisation in no doubt on the path of continuous development and whilst we improve our assets we are also focussing on raising the standards of our human resources.
“The new set of equipment will help our staff carry out their jobs more efficiently and effectively. Fiji Ports plan is as when the year of our services grows, our services to our customers also continue to grow,” he said.
He said machine operators at Suva Port would be train on how effectively they could operate the machines.
“We have different types of equipment’s here at Fiji Ports Terminal Limited. As an on-going programme FPTL will continue to reap the benefits of Kalmar’s expertise,” he said.
“We are also highly conscious of the environmental impacts of their operations and these new machines would greatly assist in the transforming and development of Fiji ports towards the Green Ports Concept.
“I would like to acknowledge the Kalmar Australia team of director Michael Wahab and product specialist Paul Thompson for the wonderful machinery and the technical assistance and support,” he said.
FPTL chief executive officer Hasthika Dela said they had purchased eleven container handling equipment the last four years.
“We procured two new reach sniper (machines) in 2014 and we procured another six in 2016 and these four new ones,” Mr Dela said.
“With this we hope to improve our services for the customers,” he said.