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In its effort to deliver effective and efficient services to its clients, APM Terminal Apapa, one of the leading global container terminal operators, has added three new mobile harbour cranes to its operation. The cranes, which were commissioned in Lagos, were acquired to complement existing equipment to boost service delivery at the terminal.
According to Andrew Dawes, managing director, APM Terminal, Apapa, the three new cranes acquired at a total cost of 10 million Euros, will expand the terminal’s fleet and offer better service as its business expands. He said the cranes were bought from Liebherr and made in Rostock, Germany. “We invested 10 million Euros in purchasing these new cranes. The amount includes spares and training. The aim is to make our terminal more efficient and offer better service to Nigerian importers,” Dawes stated.
A noteworthy feature of the new cranes is the “soft touch” function that allows drivers to load and offload containers “softly” to prevent damage to equipment, vehicles and make the working environment safer for staff. Dawes said that APM Terminal Apapa also takes pride in developing its Nigerian employees to operate all types of equipment. “We deploy APM Terminal’s globally defined and internationally accredited training course ‘ReQuip’ in training equipment operators. This course creates a standard consistent approach to train staff. Our terminal employs four ReQuip certified trainers who are multi-skilled on different equipment types including Mobile Harbour Cranes,” he said.
Some of the operators expressed appreciation to the company for investing in the new cranes. Victor Enegide, one of the operators described it as an improvement on the previous versions of the cranes. “These sets of new cranes have better lighting system that makes it convenient to work at night,” he said. Sule Olanrewaju, another operator explained that “container handling has been made a lot easier now as these sets of cranes are fitted with better flipper controls and introduction of the push buttons.”
APM Terminal Apapa started operation in 2006 with a lease of 25 years. With 55 hectares of land, the terminal is the largest container terminal in West Africa. It has 989 full-time employees and another 1,211 contractors and sub-contractors. In 2014, APM Terminal Apapa handled 650,000 TEUs which represents 53 percent of containerized cargo imports through Lagos.
The terminal currently services 10 shipping lines and thousands of importers. Since the start of the concession in 2006, APM Terminals has spent $335million on equipment, paving, buildings, training and information technology to facilitate trade in Nigeria. The terminal currently operates with 22 Rubber Tyre Gantry cranes (RTGs), 11 Mobile Harbour Cranes, 10 Reach Stackers, 10 Empty Handlers and 75 Terminal Trucks.
By Pita Ochai
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