All 7 ship-to-shore and 20 RTG ultra-modern gantry cranes have arrived for installation in the Port of Tema, Ghana. These are one of the final pieces of a $1.0bn investment by APM Terminals and its partners in Meridian Port Services (MPS), Bolloré Africa Logistics and Ghana Ports & Harbours Authority. With crane commissioning and operator training now taking place, the Port is on schedule to open on June 28 this year.
The breakwater and access channel, able to accommodate the world's largest container ships, and the first 2 deep-water berths are expected to be able to receive commercial vessels by the end of June 2019. Port infrastructure for receiving and delivering containers from/to shippers and consignees will also be ready. The third new berth will be operational in the first quarter of 2020, ahead of the scheduled completion in June 2020. A fourth berth will follow bringing the quay length to 1,400 m.
Most advanced in the world
The 7 new Super Post Panamax ship-to-shore cranes are not only some of the largest Ship-to-Shore cranes in the world, but also amongst the most advanced. Standing at a towering height of 89 meters, and 134 meters high with the boom raised, this is equivalent to 40-50 story building. They offer a 50.8m lift height (above rail) and a 66-meter outreach capable of handling containers on board vessels up to 23 rows, and over 10 on deck. They have a maximum lift of 65 Ton (Twin Lift).
The Port has also taken delivery of a fleet of 20 eRTG (Electric Rubber Tyre Gantries) capable of stacking containers 7 wide and 1 over 5 high in the container yards. The cranes are electrically powered instead of using diesel generators, contributing to an improvement in the environment.
This massive infrastructure project is being managed by Meridian Port Services, a joint venture between APM Terminals (35%) Bolloré Africa Logistics (35%) and the Ghana Ports and Harbour Authority (30%).
Supporting economic growth
The existing container facility, operated by MPS since 2007, has reached maximum capacity. Tema’s new world-class port infrastructure will support the country's economic growth, providing 3.5 million TEUs in annual throughput capacity when fully built out. More than 5,000 jobs have been created as a result of the project.
African Hub
This new gigantic Port Infrastructure will be able to accommodate Ghana’s trade & industry growth as well as serving as the regional hub for West Africa and beyond. Expanding the port using superior infrastructure and modern, advanced technology will allow Ghanaian companies to compete for business in the most cost-effective way.
MPS’s terminal efficiency, accessibility, variety of shipping lines, frequency of vessel calls, fast vessel turnaround time, high port capacity and berth availability are the optimal criteria for making Tema Port, The Hub Port for Africa.
Having a Hub Port in Tema will steer Ghana Industry to be connected to the wider West Africa consumer markets in a more efficient way (direct services or shorter transit time and competitive sea freight rates). This is an important facilitation to the economy; attract investment in the trade & industry sectors to setup facilities/factories round Tema Port leading to job creation, increased trade and higher foreign exchange earnings.
Source: APM Terminals (Additional information about the Port of Tema at CruiseMapper)