TF Shipping, a subsidiary of Tumas Group, last week expressed satisfaction at the extensive worked secured by the management of Malta Shipyards on the QC - a post panamax gantry crane, for the first time in Valletta Port.

Portek International, a company from Singapore, a global specialist provider of solutions to the port industry and also in modernisation, modification and mobilisation of port equipment, brought over the QC to Malta. The QC was being towed from Taiwan to Valencia two months ago. With a gross weight of 950 tons and 13 storeys high, secured and lashed on a barge from Singapore, faced rough seas in the vicinity of Malta. Welded supports were cut off by rough seas and strong winds, which hindered the voyage to Valencia.

TF Shipping managed to bring the QC to Malta Shipyards for extensive repair works. With the collaboration of the shipyard management and Portek representative, extensive work was done which includes supporting pipes, hot work and repairing the machine room.

A representative from Portek Inter-national was in Malta purposely to inspect the job. "I am very satisfied with the job by the shipyards in Malta," the representative said. "The QC sustained various damages during the voyage and Portek is looking forward to use Malta for future prospects."

Portek International Ltd with its partners TF Shipping Agency is also bidding for the Valletta Port operations. Portek, which is listed in the Singapore stock exchange, currently operates three terminals in Indonesia and one in Algeria, and has 20 offices in nine countries across the world.