Taiwo Afolabi Boosts Operations At Ports With The New Harbor Cranes & Container Handlers

The Taiwo Afolabi led management of Ports & Cargo Handling Services Ltd (the port operation arm of SIFAX GROUP) just commissioned the first batch of brand new RTGs (10nos), 2 harbor cranes and 3 empty container handlers, in addition to the bevy of state of the art equipment available at the terminal.

It will be recalled that late last year (2011), the company placed orders for 10 nos. of RTGs, 5 of which have arrived, representing the first batch, while the remaining 5 RTGs will arrive at the terminal in about a month.

The exquisite features of the RTGs include; the new Konecrane cabin and the latest digital global positioning system assisted technology for container yard, which includes the auto steering features that keeps the crane on a
Taiwo Afolabi pre-programmed straight driving path, thus improving safety and increasing productivity. The all-electric, 16-wheel RTG has a lifting capacity of 50tons, stacking 1-over-5 containers high and 7 containers wide plus a truck lane.

This transition from reach-stacker operations to RTG operations will lead to smoother and more effective operations.

Speaking at the unveiling event, the managing director of Ports & Cargo, Mr Afolabi affirmed that within the next 12 months, the storage capacity would have increased to 17,250TEUS from the original 5,000 TEUS capacity before the terminal was concessioned to P&CHS on the 11th of May, 2006.

This will translate to tremendous efficiency and effectiveness in the services of P&CHS to both its clients and prospective clients in the shipping community all over the world and in Nigeria, giving credence to the success of the federal government of Nigeria’s policy of port privatization through the public private partnership (PPP). Also, speaking at the event, the General Manager of Western Port command, Alh. Bulangu Mohammed, who was represented the Managing Director of Nigerian Ports

Authority, showered encomiums on the management of P&CHS for this huge achievement, while also urging other stakeholders (who were represented in their numbers, e.g. Executive Secretary Shippers Council, MD and other top officials of MSC, management staff of 5 Star logistics, representative of the CG of Nigerian Customs, ANCLA, NAGGAFF, bankers, Manufactures Association of Nigeria, MAN, etc.), to continue in this attitude of continuous investment in the industry, to ensure Nigeria becomes the shipping hub of Africa.

Also speaking at this event, which enjoyed wide coverage by both the electronic and print media, the chairman of Ports & Cargo Handling Services – Gen. John N. Shagaya (Nigeria’s longest serving minister of Internal Affairs) affirmed the huge transformation the port system in Nigeria has witnessed since the Federal Government of Nigeria’s policy of port privatization; using P&CHS as a case study of this success story.