GHANA Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) has had its first vessel call at a new bulk jetty in Takoradi with the completion of the first 200m of the proposed 800m bulk ore terminal.
The facility has been opened to traffic to handle bulk mineral ore through the port.
So far two vessels, M. V Josco Fuzhou (197m) and MV IRIS OLDENDORF (200m), have called the port to load bauxite.
M. V Josco Fuzhou sailed with a draft of 11.7m and MV. IRIS OLDENDORF will be sailing with a draft of 13.5m.
Head of Marketing and Public Relations Officer of GHHA, Mr. Peter Amoo-Bediako, in an interview with our correspondent described the exercise as history making.
He noted that since 1928 when the port commenced business, the two vessels are the largest vessels that have called the port in respect to size (LOA) and draft.
There has been a completion of 200m of the proposed 800m bulk jetty with eight bollards fixed and seven fenders to allow more vessel calls.
According to him, M. V IRIS OLDENDOORF was to commence loading of 63,000mt of bauxite and sail with a draft 13.5m with the previous vessel loading 51,127mt of bauxite making a total load of 114,127mt compared to a maximum of 75,000mt of bauxite that would have been loaded using just the buoys at the old port.
He further stated that the new bulb jetty dredged -16m will add more benefits for cargoes like manganese, bauxite and clinker to be imported and exported and allow bigger vessel calls.
“It has also improved the revenue stream of the port. The expansion which began January 2014, although not completed, has produced lots of benefits in terms of revenue not only for the port but for the country,” he added.
Mr. Amoo- Bediako added that Takoradi Port was believed to be the deep drafted port of 16m in West Africa, indicating that the port was available for more imports and exports, especially for landlocked countries.
He said by 2018 the bulb jetty will be fully completed which will increase the loading of cargoes.
Both master of the vessels- Capt. Shi Guowen (Josco Fuzhou) and Capt. Salvatore (IRIS OLDENDORF) – have expressed satisfaction with the level of service provided by the marine operations outfit.
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