He takes over from Mr. Dallas Hampton whose three years contract with the company ends by August 31, 2013.
Dawes brings 18 years of experience in port operation to his new job.
He had served as the Chief Operating Officer of APM Terminals Apapa before he moved to work at the Africa-Middle East Regional office in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), as COO
He has also worked in other countries including Canada, United Kingdom, India and China, to name a few.
“My last three years in Nigeria has been immensely satisfying in spite of many challenges the terminal encountered. It is fair to say that it is much better in shape than when I arrived in July 2010 and the ongoing terminal redevelopment has a solid future. I would like to urge you all to continue to strive to make APMT the number one Terminal Operator in Nigeria and thank you for the support you have provided me during the last three years,” the outgoing Managing Director, Hampton, said in his farewell speech to the staff.
Dawes has promised to consolidate on the gains recorded in over seven years of APM Terminal’s operation in Apapa.
At the flag-off of the evacuation of containers by rail from APM Terminals last Friday, Dawes said: “We are very excited about this project because it will enable APM Terminals Apapa to grow and to fulfil its plans and the plan of the Nigerian government. It is essential that this rail operation is successful so we are excited and on behalf of APM Terminals Apapa, we fully support this and we will commit our resources and finances to make this a success.”
Dawes said that Phase 3 of the modernisation and upgrading of the terminal, which commenced in February this year, is fully on course.
The project, which covers terminal yard redevelopment and expansion, also includes building of new staff amenities and customer service building; acquisition of container handling equipment, implementation of new terminal operating systems and a new Customs container inspection facility.
APM Terminals Apapa commenced operations in 2006 and has since invested over $300 million in the modernisation and upgrading of West Africa’s largest container terminal.
APM Terminals Apapa has eliminated vessel waiting times of up to 40 days common in 2006 – as yard expansions and other improvements have been implemented, raising productivity from six moves per hour to the current average of 24 moves per hour.
APM Terminals offers the global shipping community a geographically balanced, integrated Global Terminal Network which includes current operations at 62 ports and terminals in 40 countries with seven new terminal development projects and 17 expansion programs now underway, along with over 170 Inland Services operations in 48 countries.
Staffed by 20,000 professionals across a total of 68 countries spanning five continents, APM Terminals serves every major trade lane with a truly global presence, providing its customers with the most advanced terminal technology, equipment and operations in the industry.
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