DP World Sokhna, the Red Sea commercial gateway to Egypt’s capital Cairo, has taken possession of two new ship-to-shore gantry cranes as it aims to boost the productivity of the container facility operated by Dubai’s DP World.

Manufactured by ZPMC of China, the two cranes were brought to port by the vessel Zhen-Hua 18 and off-loaded in meticulously planned operation planned by DP World Sokhna’s management and engineers.

The Super Post Panamax quay cranes have a capacity of 65tns each and a reach of 24 rows of containers, the marine terminal operator said in a statement. It added that the new acquisitions will join the two existing gantry cranes currently in operation.

The decision comes as the operator looks to increase productivity and efficiency at the port, which connects Cairo to the Europe-Asia sea trade route that passes through the Suez Canal and the Red Sea.

By doubling the amount of giant gantry cranes, DP World Sokhna said that it would allow the facility to serve some of the largest vessels in the world. In March of this year, 11 new rubber-tyred gantry cranes were received and installed at the port.

Sokhna is the closest seaport to Cairo, with a six lane highway running 120km to the Egyptian capital. Furthermore, there are extensive rail links running from the city to the port and vice versa.