PTML voids NIWA claims, provides barges to its off dock terminal in Mile 2 Lagos
Contrary to the position of National Inland Waterway Authority (NIWA) that there is no plan to move cargos using the ports waterways, the management of Ports & Terminal Multiservices Ltd (PTML Terminal) Lagos has commenced evacuation of Customs cleared containers from its terminal at the Tin Can Island Port Complex by barges to its off dock terminal in Mile 2 Area of Lagos for onward delivery to customers.
This means that trailers will be pick the containers from the facility seamlessly and head towards their owners destination thereby avoiding the unmotorable Tincan-Coconut road.
Business Hilights gathered that in 2008 in anticipation of the expected growth of traffic, PTML acquired an underdeveloped waterfront area located about four nautical miles from the main terminal at Mile 2 where it built a new off dock terminal dedicated to cargo transfer from the main terminal using an environmentally friendly barge operation, thus reducing congestion around the Tin Can Island Port Complex. The Mile 2 Off dock Terminal, which is fully fenced and is well secured with complementary services of government agencies, sits on over 150,000 square metres of land.
NIWA Area manager for Lagos had noted that there is no plan to move cleared containers via the waterways because there is no infrastructure for that, but PTML said by this model, containers have escaped the challenges of Apapa traffic gridlocks and bad roads.
Explaining more, the General Manager of PTML Terminal, Tunde Keshiro, siad the palliative to customers using barges is to save the customers the pains they usually go through in taking delivery at the main terminal at the Tin Can Island Port Complex because of the perennial gridlock in the Apapa area and on the Tin Can port access road.
He said “The arrangement is to leverage on the existing short waterways barge connection between PTML main terminal and Mile Two Off dock terminal by extending the barge service to deliver import containers”.
“This unique logistics solution is to help importers overcome current delays in evacuating Customs cleared cargo being experienced on account of the deplorable port access road condition.
According to him, the new arrangement has been worked out to ensure safe and secured movement of cargo from the port to importer’s warehouse, ensure quick evacuation of cargo and effective inventory management.
Another advantage of the exit mode is that it ensures fast return of empty containers to the terminal”.
Business Hilights recalls that PTML Terminal, which is Nigeria’s newest port facility, was built in by Grimaldi Group and commissioned in 2006. It is the largest RORO terminal in Nigeria handling majority of vehicles imported into the country.
Besides, the second phase of the main terminal – which included the construction of a second 200metres berth (Berth 12) and the reclamation of additional 40,000 square metres of terminal area, was completed in 2007.
