CHINA''s Tianjin port will see its cargo handling capacity soar by 1.7 million TEU in early 2007 when a new terminal, the Tianjin Port Alliance International Container Terminal, is expected to commence operations.

The new box terminal is situated in the city''s Beijiang port area. The terminal will consist of four berths and have a quay length of 1,100 metres, Xinhua reports.

Equipment on order includes 11 quay cranes, 33 rubber-tyred gantry cranes, four empty container stackers, two 25-ton heavy forklifts, one 4.5-ton forklift and three 3-ton forklifts. All equipment will be delivered within this year