WACT boosts operations with mobile harbour crane

APM Terminals’ West Africa Container Terminal Nigeria (WACT) has taken delivery of a new generation Mobile Harbour Crane (MHC) to enhance service delivery at the terminal in Onne Port, Rivers State.

The new Liebherr LHM600 mobile harbour crane for handling containers brings the total number of MHC at the terminal to five and effectively consolidates the position of WACT as the best-equipped terminal in the eastern ports.

The Managing Director of WACT, Naved Zafar, said the new crane was acquired as part of a fresh investment of USD112 million by APM Terminals to upgrade and expand the terminal.

He said in addition to the mobile harbour cranes, the terminal also has 18 Rubber Tyred Gantry (RTG) cranes and several other container handling equipment.

According to him, the upgrade also includes the acquisition of empty handlers, terminal trucks, forklifts, deployment of reefer racks with a 600-plug capacity, expansion of the current yard, a new workshop and a new terminal gate complex.

“We already have four MHCs and it is good to see the fifth one joining the fleet and undergoing the required testing and commissioning. We have been multi-skilling our operators and upskilling them to operate both the MHCs and RTGs,” he said.

Also speaking, the WACT’s Deputy Managing Director/Head of Country Projects, Jeethu Jose, said the Onne terminal upgrade project enables sustainable success in executing its strategy, with the ultimate goal of providing world-class service delivery at the terminal.

He said, adding more cranes will increase the terminal’s yard capacity, improve vessel operations and fast-track cargo delivery.
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This way, we can keep up with the market demand and provide exceptional customer experience,” Jose said.