The Port of Cagayan de Oro has beefed up its container cargo handling capacity with the arrival of additional top of the line cargo handling equipment to further boost its capability to handle containerized cargoes.

On 15 June 2017, MV Yuan Jing arrived at the Port of Cagayan de Oro carrying onboard one (1) unit rail mounted gantry (RMG) crane and three (3) units rubber-tired gantry (RTG) cranes. The RMG has a capacity of 36 tons and a loading/discharging rate of 23/25 boxes per hour while the RTG has a capacity of 30.5 tons each and can move 15 boxes per hour. Each RTG has a maximum reach of 15 containers & hoisting height of 6 high. To date, the port has a total of four (4) RMGs and nine (9) RTGs.

The acquisition is part of the Business Plan of Oroport Cargo Handling Services Inc., the authorized cargo handling operator of the Port of Cagayan de Oro, to further modernize the cargo handling facilities and equipment of the port and enhance its productivity and efficiency.

It may be noted that PMO-MOC has also reconfigured the port layout to accommodate these additional facilities. This is yet another initiative of the PMO in partnership with the private sector to address operational concerns including port congestion. With ongoing infrastructure projects such as the wharf extension of the Port of Cagayan de Oro, and the construction and development of the Port of Opol, the existing port congestion is expected to be addressed soon. —- By EA Calo