Transhipment feeders needed for West African shallows

OCEAN liners calling at ports in West Africa have been deploying new generation vessels that require deeper water than available, thus creating an urgent need for transshipment feeders to low-draught local ports.

According to Hans Ole Madsen, vice president business development for APM Terminal's Africa, Middle East and India region, the establishment of transhipment hubs in West Africa "must be done in combination with gateway cargo opportunities," reports London's Containerisation International.

"This is due to the higher investment risks associated with dedicated transshipment hubs," said Mr Madsen. "The West African container market is currently worth around three million TEU a year, with major gateway ports being Lagos, Tema and Abidjan," he said.

The problem is that port development takes longer. "These days governments have to prove they are democratic and that often means having more committees to deal with before projects can be signed off," said Mr Madsen.

"This week I'm in Liberia hopefully to finalise our 25-year deal in Monrovia, but that doesn't mean things will then start happening straight away. You have to be patient."

APM Terminal has been successful in the region, with the latest phase of the Apapa expansion and improvement programme being scheduled for completion in the third or fourth quarter, work which will have doubled the facility's handling capacity. APM T took over operations in 2006.

Elsewhere, APM T has invested more than US$100 million in Angola's leading box port Luanda, with its terminal having an annual throughput capacity of 350,000 TEU, the report noted.

"Our inland container depot programme has been crucial here as it has given us additional storage space, a customs inspection area and enhance operating flexibility," said Mr Madsen.

"We are always on the lookout and I suppose when it comes to East Africa then it is all about the new container terminal project at Mombasa," he added.
(Source:www.schednet.com)