By Tony Nzekwe
In a bid to enhance seamless Cargo clearance and efficient service delivery, the West Africa Container Terminal (WACT) has commissioned two new state of the art Mobile Harbour Cranes (MHSs) two Reach Stackers to boost efficiency and Cargo handling Operation at the Onne Port, Rivers State.
The two new Mobile Harbour Cranes and handling equipment acquired by WACT is valued at $15 Million. By the acquisition, the company had moved a step further to realising it’s vision of becoming the’Gateway to Eastern Nigeria and beyong’ as the additional equipment will improve on the already quick turnaround time for vessels calling at the WACT Terminal Onne.
WACT now boasts of four MHCs deployed into it’s operations, with one more planned to arrive in 2021.
Speaking at the Commissioning ceremony in Onne, Rivers State, the Managing Director,WACT, Mr. Aamir Mirza, said, ” The latest set of equipment were acquired as part of the terminal’s $100 Million Investment announced in 2019 to significantly increase the terminal capacity.”
Adding, ” Our equipment and infrastructure upgrade are the key enablers for WACT to better Serve her customers. Our cranes shall offer improved and high productivity, which means shorter Port stay of vessels, resulting in saving to our liner customers.
Aamir asserted, ” We are now able to handle the next generation and larger gearless vessels,” adding, “The Investment will include the deployment of reefer racks having 600+ plugs , a new workshop, larger powerhouse and 20 Rubber Tyred Gantry (RTG) Cranes.”
He added,”This will result in more efficient Operations and shall enable customers to take delivery of their cargo much earlier ”
However, Mirza, stressed that with the massive investment at the terminal, WACT has established itself as the largest and most efficient container terminal in Eastern Nigeria, adding, that the company has created 2, 950 direct and indirect job opportunities in the country.
His words: ” Our vision is to make WACT the gateway to Eastern Nigeria and beyond. We believed this vision can be achieved much earlier if the government can support us by addressing some fundamental challenges like security risk because of piracy, clearance of overtime containers, improving roads and related infrastructure that connect Onne Port to the rest of Nigeria.”
In his remarks, the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd), who was represented at the event by the Assistant Comptroller of Customs in charge of Zone C, ACG Elton Edorhe, has said, ” The deployment of the new Mobile Harbour Cranes and Reach Stackers by WACT would improve efficiency and aid quick release of cargo at the Port, leading to increased revenue for the government.”
Ali posited, ” Modern customs is concerned about trade facilitation around the world. The deployment of these cranes will mean efficiency. More containers will be brought in and handled proficiently and that will increase revenue generation to the federal government coffers through customs.”
Adding, ” Trade facilitation is a process that is all encompassing which cannot be achieved by one organization but through stakeholders collaboration.”
Reacting, the Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, Hadiza Bala Usman, who was represented by the Port Manager of Onne Port, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, commended WACT for acquiring the new cranes, which she said, would aid efficiency, improve productivity and ensure quick turnaround of vessels at the Port.
WACT started commercial operation in 2006, as the first Greenfield container terminal in Nigeria to be built under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) Model.
