Onne (Rivers), April, 2, 2023 – Cargo clearance has been boosted at Onne Port by the acquisition of 16 new terminal trucks by the West Africa Container Terminal (WACT).
WACT is owned and operated by APM Terminals which started commercial operation in Nigeria in 2006
It is the first Greenfield container terminal in Nigeria to be built under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.
In a statement by the terminal operator at the weekend, the additional container handling equipment would further improve the already quick turnaround time for vessels calling WACT.
With the acquisition and inauguration of the new terminal trucks, WACT now boasts of 36 terminal trucks deployed into its operations.
Frederik Klinke, the Country Managing Director of APM Terminals Nigeria, commended WACT for the acquisition of the new trucks.
“This is truly an amazing story in a terminal that has essentially renewed itself on an existing ground, and now stands as a fully modern and fully equipped terminal.
“These trucks will enhance the capacity of WACT and enable it to handle more volume,” Klinke said.
Naved Zafar, the Managing Director of WACT, said the trucks were acquired as part of a fresh investment of USD112 million by APM Terminals to upgrade and expand the terminal.
“This brand new fleet is part of our ongoing Onne terminal upgrade, an expansion project as you all know, which has been going strong since last two years.
“We are coming closer to complete the major part of that expansion project,” he said.
The upgrade, according to him, will include the acquisition of Mobile Harbour Cranes (MHCs), Rubber Tyred Gantry (RTG) cranes, empty handlers, terminal trucks and forklifts.
It will also include the deployment of reefer racks with a 600-plug capacity, as well as expansion of the current yard, new workshop and a new terminal gate complex.
Comptroller Bola Imam, the Customs Area Controller, Port Harcourt Area 2 Command, acknowledged WACT’s commitment to trade facilitation and revenue generation.
“WACT’s operations have supported the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) immensely in generating revenue and meeting their targets.
“NCS is all about the revenue collection, but this cannot be achieved without WACT.
“WACT has shown wonderful commitment towards this course, and we remain thankful to them,” he said. (GBN)
