Port and Cargo Handling Services Limited, a member of the Sifax Group and operator of Terminal C at the Tin Can Island Port, Lagos, says it will soon take delivery of four additional Rubber Tyre Gantry (RTG) cranes in order to improve and enhance service delivery at the terminal.
Managing Director of Port & Cargo, John Jenkins, who disclosed this at an interactive session with journalists last weekend stated that acquisition of the RTG cranes before the end of the year in addition to the 10 RTG’s currently in use at the terminal will boost operations and enhance efficiency thereby leading to quick turnaround of vessels.
Jenkins said that the terminal now has a storage capacity of 14,000 TEUs compared to 5,000 TEUs in 2006 when it was concessioned to Port & Cargo.
“Since we took over the terminal in May 2006, we have taken giant steps to improve on our operations by investing heavily on infrastructure, plants and equipment. As a result, the turnaround time of vessels has by far reduced with what was obtainable before the concession of the terminal. In the same vein, berth occupancy, cargo deliveries and security of cargoes have tremendously improved.
“We have greatly improved the security situation in the port. As a result, loss or vandalism of cargo through the activities of wharf rats has been reduced to the barest minimum”, Jenkins stated.
The Port & Cargo boss added that a new terminal operating system which tracks all container movement is now operational at the terminal. The new tracking system, he said, has eliminated incidences of missing containers at the terminal. He said the firm has also constructed an ISPS Code compliance see-through wire mesh fencing at the terminal.
He said that to ensure 24-hour electricity supply, the company has invested in generators. He urged the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) to expedite action in connecting the terminal to public electricity supply.
“One of the major challenges we are facing is that of non-connection of our terminal to public light. As a result of this we have been relying on generators in the past six years to power the terminal. We have therefore invested so much in the purchase of generators along with the associated cost of diesel and maintenance”, he said.
Jenkins also appealed to NPA to remove the harbour crane it abandoned at the terminal since 2006. The unserviceable crane, he said, is a major encumbrance to operations at the terminal.
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