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One month after the commissioning of two new Mobile Harbour Cranes worth $10 million at the Onne Port Complex, Rivers State, the West Africa Container Terminal (WACT) has again acquired four additional specialised terminal trucks and two reach stackers.
The acquisition, which is geared towards meeting the growing business demand, will also ensure WACT remains the gateway to East Nigeria and beyond, and brings the number of specialised terminal trucks it acquired this year to 14.
Aamir Mirza, managing director of WACT, said at the commissioning last Thursday that the additional investment is aimed at improving ship turnaround time and cargo delivery at the terminal.
He said Eastern shippers do not need to bring in their cargoes through Lagos because they can get quality services and faster delivery of their boxes at Onne Port.
“In February this year, four specialised terminal trucks were air-freighted through Port Harcourt International airport using one of the world largest cargo planes, Antonov 124. With the two reach stackers and four terminal trucks that we commissioned today, it is basically the end of the first order that we placed,” Mirza said.
According to him, “The investment is about $4 million in all while the cranes are worth $10 million meaning that we have spent $14 million this year. There are more equipment coming because we will be getting man-lifter used to repair Mobile Harbour Cranes and 10 more trailers.”
He noted that WACT has been investing in manpower development, processes and equipment to effectively compete with terminals in or outside Nigeria.
He listed the modern cargo handling equipment in WACT to include two Mobile Habor Cranes; 18 reach stackers, four empty handlers, nine forklifts and 26 specialised terminal trucks acquired to give shipping lines, importers and agents, highest level of service.
Mirza, who commended the Federal Government and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) for encouraging private sector investment at the port, said WACT has actualised the objectives of the port concession programme.
Al-Hassan Ismaila, port manager, Onne Port, said WACT has exhibited high level of commitment in running of the facility, which has led to improvement in service delivery.
“This is another milestone and we appreciate WACT. First, it was forklifts. Second, it was terminal trucks and we were also here for the crane commissioning but today, we are here for the reach stackers,” said Ismaila, who was represented by the traffic manager, Yohana Izam.
He gave the assurance that the NPA would continue to explore avenues to increase patronage of the Eastern ports while also ensuring safety and security of vessels coming through the region.
