Massive investment, efficiency grow Ports & Cargo service delivery

Ports & Cargo Handling Service Limited (PCHSL), an indigenous private terminal operator in charge of the Terminal ‘C’ of the Tin-Can Island Port Complex, has added tremendous value in port operations through massive investment in infrastructure as well as acquisition of high level cargo handling equipment worth millions of dollars.

The indigenous terminal operator, according to industry close watchers, has shown that Nigerian-owned companies through the utilisation of local content can be good port managers.

Findings have shown that in the space of seven years, investment in PCHSL has brought about reduced turnaround time of vessels, limited berth occupancy, timely cargo delivery and improved security of cargoes in the terminal compared to the pre-concession era.

In terms of cargo handling equipment, the terminal has acquired six Liebherr Harbour Cranes (shore cranes); 10 Rubber-Tyred Gantries (RTGs); six empty handlers; 34 maffi; 35 terminal trucks; 26 full handlers and five forklifts. This has helped in enhancing the cargo handling operations of the terminal.

Due to investment in infrastructure, the terminal now has the capacity to handle about 400,000 Twenty Equivalent Units (TEUs) of containers. The storage capacity has grown to 14,000 TEUs of full containers as against 5,000 TEUs before concession; 1,050 TEUs of full export containers; 2,400 TEUs of empty containers; 100 reefer plugs and 3,000 metric tonnes of general cargoes.

“Since we took over the terminal in 2006, we have taken giant steps to improve on our operations by investing heavily on infrastructure, plants and equipment,” said John Jerkins, managing director, PCHSL, during a facility tour of the terminal recently to ascertain the operational performance seven years after.

According to him, the terminal, which handles container and general cargoes, has computerised its operations and provided cargo tracking system that has improved service delivery in the terminal.

On security, the terminal further improved the security situation in the port in line with the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code such that people without access control (electronic identification card) do not have access to the terminal.

“We have acquired new terminal operating system that tracks all the container movement in the terminal and this has made loss or vandalism of cargo through the activities of ‘wharf rats’ a thing of the past,” Jerkins said.

Currently, 23 Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras, which will soon be upgraded to 60, were installed at the terminal to enhance security at the terminal. This is in addition to the gate-houses that have been constructed.

To ensure 24-hour port operation, the Ports & Cargo boss said the terminal acquired six generating sets of 250 megawatts capacity each to power the terminal so that port operation would not be disrupted by erratic power supply, given the failure of the Federal Government through the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to connect the terminal to the national grid.

He added that the terminal will, in addition to the current investment in terminal development, build new warehouse facilities for general cargoes, acquire new equipment and build training schools.