Anxiety as Togo, Ghana Wrestle Hub Status from Nigeria Seaport

Abiola Seun |

Even though, Lomé port, Togo now hosts West Africa’s leading container port, snatching the position from Lagos ports in Nigeria in the last quarter of 2018, APM Terminal said its $1billion investment at Tema port is still on schedule and when completed will handle 3.5 million TEUs in annual throughput capacity when fully built out.

According to Netherlands leading consulting firm, Dynamar, the Port of Lomé (PAL) in Togo has rapidly expanded from 311,500 twenty-foot equivalent (TEU) containers in 2013 to 1,193,800 TEU in 2017.

“The surge is due to the commissioning of the Lomé Container terminal (LCT) which handles containers shipped through the port of Lomé. LCT actually handles nearly 890,000 TEU yearly that is about 75% of containers that transit via the PAL.

“Beyond the LCT’s commissioning, Lomé profited from the congestion hampering activities at the port of Lagos to overtake it.”

Aside the congestion at Lagos ports, low quality service also caused Lagos to lose its position of leading port in the region. Indeed, the flaws cost the port of Lagos close to 30% of its container traffic over five years, bringing it to 1,050,000 TEU at the end of 2017.

“Hence, Tema’s port in Ghana, which used to be second after Lagos for years, is now third in the region with 956,400 TEU handled in 2017. The Ghanaian port is ahead of Abidjan (663,600 TEU), Dakar (570,500 TEU) and Cotonou (333,000 TEU). Since 2013, all these ports have stagnated, data shows.

“With a depth of 16.60 meters, the Port of Lomé is the only deep-water port on the West African coast that can accommodate modern ships; while Onne port in Rivers, State, remains Nigeria’s deepest with 13 meters draft.

“In 2017, 285 container ships sailed through the seven intercontinental routes towards West Africa. Sent by 24 operators, each ship had an average capacity of 3,300 TEU. The biggest of these ships, a 13,600 TEU-ship is used by the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) under a hub and spoke service that connects Lomé to various ports in the region.

“Spurred by the increase in oil prices, the number of containers in West Africa should reach 4.3 million TEU by 2021,” the Netherlands based consulting firm stated in a recent report.

Meanwhile, the port of Tema, when fully operational would make Ghana hub port in West Africa.

According to a press statement made available to newsmen by Maersk group, all equipment needed had all arrived for installation in the port.

The statement also revealed that the massive infrastructure project is being managed as a joint venture between APM Terminals (35%) Bollore Africa Logistics (35%) and the Ghana Ports and Harbour Authority (30%).

It reads, “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 operators of the port said the Port is on schedule to be opened 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 1,400m.

“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.

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.

“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.”