PORT OF MARSEILLE ADDS CRANE, ISSUES RFP FOR TERMINAL MANAGEMENT

PORT OF MARSEILLE ADDS CRANE, ISSUES RFP FOR TERMINAL MANAGEMENT    The Port Autonome De Marseille has accepted delivery of its fourth superPanamax gantry crane at the Fos container terminal.
   The new crane will be able to handle vessels with capacities of 6,500 TEUs, once it's operational in October at the Graveleau terminal. With the new addition, terminal will have nine
   Built by Fantuzzi-Regianne, the crane is estimated to cost $5.17 million. The Marseille Port Authorities will finance 35 percent of the cost, and has authorized the purchase of two additional superPanamax cranes to be commissioned in November 2002.
   The port authority is also looking for a terminal operator to run its operations at the future FOS 2XL terminal. The aim of this strategic partnership will be to develop a transshipment and consolidation hub.
   PAM expects to select up to three candidates in order to undergo extensive negotiations. The candidates will be required to control and develop computerized operations planning and goods monitoring system, provide port and rail cargo handling, ship handling and supply maritime and land freight.
   A short list of candidates to be drawn up by the end of the year and a final choice to be made in July 2002.
   The FOS 2XL terminal is part of the port authority's plan to handle up to 1 million TEUs a year at Fos by 2004. The port currently handles about 412,000 TEUs a year.