Press Release

A contract-signing ceremony was held today (21 September 2006) by Shenzhen Dachan Bay Modern Port Development Co. Ltd. ("DaChan Bay Terminals") and Shanghai Zhenhua Port Machinery Co. Ltd ("ZPMC"). DaChan Bay Terminal One purchases 12 units of dual-hoist tandem-lift Quay Crane and 30 units of 40 LT Rubber-tyred Gantry Crane (RTG) from ZPMC. This fleet of world-class equipment is able to fulfill the operational needs of DaChan Bay Terminals with high productivity and safety standards.

The productivity of the dual-hoist tandem-lift Quay Cranes outgrows that of the regular Quay Cranes by more than 30%. These Quay Cranes can handle two 40 ft containers up to 80 metric tons at the same time. If needed, the spreaders can also be adjusted to handle four 20 ft containers at the same time. Fitted with Quay Cranes having an outreach of 67m across 24 containers, plus an alongside depth of -15.5m (which can be further dredged to -18m), DaChan Bay Terminals is able to handle the future demands of the world's largest container vessels with high efficiency. In addition, the Quay Cranes of DaChan Bay Terminal One have a wide rail gauge of 35m, which is the widest and most unique design in South China. This design allows more tractor traffic under the Quay Cranes, and thus faster tractor turnaround time and higher terminal operation efficiency.

The one-over-six-high and one-plus-six-wide RTGs have a span of 23.5m to enable the yard stacking capacity to reach the current highest level in the market. Equipped with anti-collision and anti-lifting assurance systems, these RTGs also strengthen operation safety.

Since the ground breaking in September 2005, DaChan Bay Terminals infrastructure works have been progressing well. This fleet of newly ordered Quay Cranes and RTGs will be delivered to the Terminal in August 2007, in line with the scheduled commencement date of the terminal by end of next year.

The five-berth DaChan Bay Terminals has an annual design throughput capacity of 2.5 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs). The total area of the Terminal is about 1.12 million square meters and 600m wide. There is a quay length of 1,830m. The first two berths will become operational in end of 2007.

The Terminal is a major infrastructure project in Shenzhen, receiving full support from Shenzhen government. Managed by Modern Terminals Limited, the longest established container operator in Hong Kong, DaChan Bay Terminals is committed to providing the most efficient and safest services to fully satisfy customers.