Altus to start operations of new transshippers

PT Altus Lines Indonesia, a unit of Singapore-based shipping and logistics firm, will add two more floating cranes or transshippers to its Indonesian fleet to tap booming Indonesian coal industry.

Altus officer told Petromindo.Com on Tuesday that the transshippers will be out of a Batam shipyard in September this year, making the company?s transshippers number operating Indonesia increase to three.

The officer said the new transshippers; Quito AKM-1 and Quito AKM-2, will be placed in Tarakan, East Kalimantan and contracted to East Kalimantan coal miner PT.Mandiri Intiperkasa for five years.

Both transshippers will have maximum capacity of 20,000 tonnes per day with guaranteed capacity of 18,000 TPD, he said.

The company currently operates Quito Samarinda, rented to East Kalimantan miner PT.Anugrah Bara Kaltim for five years starting 2004. The officer said talks to extend the transshipper?s contract had been between the two parties. (denny)