Daniel Terungwa 

Ports & Cargo Handling Services Limited, a subsidiary of SIFAX Group and concessionaire of Terminal C, Tin Can Island Port, Apapa, is eyeing 300,000 TEUs for its 2021 business year.

Managing Director, Ports & Cargo Handling Services Limited, John Jenkins, in a recent statement, said the target, though ambitious, was achievable given its impressive 2020 performance despite the myriads of challenges that the maritime sector confronted in 2020.

In 2020, the terminal recorded an increase of 12,153 TEUs to cap at 242,195 TEUs as against 2019’s figure of 230,042 TEUs, according to the statement.

The full import figure rose from 109,367 TEUs in 2019 to 122,243 TEUs while the export of empty containers also witnessed an increase from 94,041 TEUs in 2019 to 96, 605 TEUs in 2020.

It, however, recorded a decline in its full export as it saw a drop from the 2019 figure of 26,634 TEUs to 23,347 – a difference of 3,287.

“Despite the harsh business terrain occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic, the terrible state of the port access roads and some other hurdles, the terminal still recorded this impressive performance. This is down to proactive business strategy, committed staff, supportive leadership and loyal clients,” Jenkins said.

He further noted that in order to boost the terminal’s efficiency, barge operation was given utmost priority with the creation of two dedicated points at the quayside where the barges load and offload with dedicated cranes. He said the barge operation had helped in the decongestion of the terminal.

“We now achieve a minimum of 8,000 TEUs for our barge operations every month. This has greatly improved the terminal’s business offerings and bring great relief to our customers who have had to endure the biting consequence of port congestion primarily caused by poor access roads and the ongoing road construction,” the Managing Director added.