NYK to build container hangar in Tokyo to improve handling capacity

NYK said Wednesday it has decided to build a container "hangar" at a berth at its Oi Container Terminal in Tokyo.

The hangar would be the first of its kind, said the Japanese carrier and terminals conglomerate.

"The new hangar, which will be built in fiscal 2010 and open from the beginning of fiscal 2011, will improve yard usage, lead to increased efficiency in loading and unloading, and result in operations that are much more environment friendly," NYK said in a statement.

The hangar will be 150 meters long, 56 meters wide, 31 meters high, with an area of 8,400 square meters and capacity for 4,200 containers. Two stacker cranes will load and unload containers and electric outlets will be fitted for use by reefer containers.

NYK said the hangar will allow containers on the bottom of a stack, which previously could not be reached until those above were moved, to be easily removed from the bottom of the hangar without first moving any other containers. The two stacker cranes will be able to handle 48 containers per hour, whereas currently two transfer cranes handle 36 containers per hour.

That, the carrier said, will lead to a reduction of eight minutes off the current handling time required for each container.

Additionally, the hangar will increase handling capacity by 66 percent, as it will be able to handle 60,000 TEUs per year versus the current handling volume of 36,000 TEUs per year.