As part of drive to attract more port businesses from the Lagos Port complexes, one of the terminal investors at Onne Port, in Rivers State, the West Africa Container Terminal (WACT) has launched two new Mobile Harbour Cranes (MHCs) valued at $10 million (about N3.6 billion) for the discharge of cargoes.
A statement made available by the company said “The MHCs, which is coming on the heels of 10 specialised terminal trucks and two new reach stackers, are expected to increase the turnaround time of vessels at the terminal. The two new container cargoes handling facilities would bring WACT, one of the most efficient container terminals outside Lagos, at par with its peers in Apapa, and Tin Can Island Ports, in terms of equipment and operational efficiency.” In his remarks at the inauguration in Onne, the Managing Director of WACT, Aamir Mirza, revealed that “The massive investment at the terminal has attracted 700 direct and 2000 indirect employment in port complex even as the company has recorded tremendous growth of 17 per cent in 2017, 21 per cent growth in 2018 and 20 per cent growth attained so far this year.”
Continuing, the CEO averred that while the latest investment remains a key enabler to customers’ satisfaction at Onne Port, “Our vision is to make WACT the best performing container terminal in West Africa. We believe this vision can be realised early enough if the government can support us to reduce the challenges of security by ensuring the safety of vessels on our waters and improve road connectivity, among others.
Maritime industry followers who were present at the launch congratulated the company for the giant stride and noted that the growth of the terminal is now guaranteed.
