Grimaldi introduces first online platform to enhance cargo delivery at port

Grimaldi Group, a leading RORO shipping company has introduced new electronic services through its web portal, aimed at enhancing efficiency and effectiveness of its processes.

Ascanio Russo, managing director of Grimaldi Agency Nigeria Limited, said the new e-services will enable customers to view ship rotation numbers of the previous 11 vessels, that call the terminal and five upcoming Grimaldi vessel calls to its terminal known as Ports and Terminal Multiservices Limited (PTML) in Lagos.

“With this new portal, our export customers can also look at the expected vessel schedule to enable them plan. They can generate estimates by following some simple steps on the same web portal and make invoice payment for containers, vehicles and general cargo, using their internet Bank NIBSS payment platform or through any debit/credit card or just simply walking into any bank branch nationwide,” Russo said.

He further stated that the new e-service portal will not only enhance delivery of cargo at port, due to its fastness, convenience, security and 24/7 availability, including weekends all year round.

According to Russo, Customers do not need to come or call Grimaldi office to check for rotation numbers or Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) of vessels because such information would be updated real time and made available online.

“Customers and agents do not need to wade through the busy Lagos traffic to obtain estimates from agency and terminal operators or make payments and they can make savings on bank charges, as well as save transportation time and costs. By deploying the first encompassing e-payment platform in the Nigeria shipping industry, we allow importers and agents to view and pay their invoices online in the comfort of their office,” he further explained.

The Grimaldi boss added that despite the huge drop in cargo volume at the terminal, occasioned by the National Automotive Policy, Grimaldi Agency and PTML Terminal will continue to introduce innovative ways to enhance service delivery to its customers and make life easier for them.

Continuing, he said: “We witnessed more than 70 percent drop in RoRo traffic at the terminal last year because of the high import duties as a result of the auto policy, which fuelled diversion of vehicles to the Port of Cotonou but despite this, we remain committed to enhancing our operations. We also remain committed to helping government achieve speedy clearance of cargo at the port and enhancing revenue collection.”

The Grimaldi Group has been offering shipping services to Nigeria for over 40 years and in 2005, it signed an agreement with the federal government of Nigeria to develop a new terminal – Ports & Terminal Multiservices Ltd (PTML) – in Tin Can Island Port on Build-Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis.

Under the BOT agreement– the first of its kind signed by the Federal Government in the maritime sector – Grimaldi assumed the obligation to build the new infrastructure at its own cost, to manage it for 25 years, pay royalties to the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) and return it to the federal government at the end of the concession tenure. The first phase of the Terminal, which entailed the construction of a new 220mt berth, the paving of 220,000 sqm and the provision of all necessary infrastructure, was commissioned in a record of 16 months.

Since then, the terminal has continued to grow and today, with an area of over 350,000 sqm and a quay length of 600 meter, it is the largest RoRo terminal in West Africa, with an annual throughput of over 100,000 containers; 150,000 vehicles and 200,000 tons of general cargo.

Uzoamaka Anagor-Ewuzie