Tema, Jan. 20, GNA – The Meridian Port Services (MPS) Terminal three at the Tema Port recorded a feat of discharging cargo from the vessel MSC Ivana in a record time of 148.83 moves per hour.
Mr. Emmanuel Ohene Addo, Operations Manager at Meridian Port Services Limited disclosing this to the media said the total throughput handled on and off the 365-meter long MSC Ivana was 3,233 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Unit (TEUs).
Mr. Addo noted that the discharging, which was done on the eve of the New Year broke the Terminal’s previous productivity record of 139.91 moves per hour done on another vessel, MSC Livorno.
He attributed the achievement to the high investment in infrastructure and superstructure at the Port coupled with the continuous upgrading of its human resource.
He added that to achieve its aim and meet the expectations of its investors, MPS over the period had to review its yard procedures, and vessel procedures as well as train the staff.
Mr. Mohammed Samara, Chief Executive Officer of MPS on his part said his outfit also invested in world-class gating and IT systems that according to him, were enhancing productivity levels at the Terminal.
Mr. Samara said “Today the driver comes with his fingerprint only and an RFID sticker on his windscreen, and if he has an appointment, our system will recognize him and the truck.
“He goes through the various scanners for security purposes. All through these processes, our system sends the information to the Customs who then within seconds verify the content and declaration and give access.”
He said that after that the driver then goes through the various portals, and is given allocation within the yard before he exits, adding that all the transactions were done without interaction or paper.
He said MPS was doing its best for Tema Port to lead in port and logistics services in the sub-region.
The CEO revealed that Terminal three was the first port of call on the west coast of Africa, adding that the service that the vessel MSC Ivana belonged to, came directly from the Far East and it did not bring containers for just Ghana and its hinterlands, but also transshipment for other ports like Abidjan, Cotonou, Nigeria, and others.
GNA