The Director of the Takoradi Port, Captain Ebenezer Afedzi, is hopeful that the new berth being constructed by IBISTEK-Atlantic Services under the Takoradi Port Expansion project, will increase container volumes at the port and boost their revenue.
Though the Takoradi Port recorded an increase in its commercial vessel calls by 15 percent, it recorded a drop in oil supply vessel calls from 1,067 to 793 calls.
Captain Afedzi, blamed the drop on its 10 metre container berth, which is not deep enough for bigger vessels.
He however says the situation will normalize with the new IBISTEK-Atlantic Services’ 16 metre container berth expected to be completed in 2020.
“Unfortunately for the port of Takoradi, our deepest berth for container as at now is 10 minus metres, but fortunately for us, IBISTEK has just started, and we are hoping that by September, October next year, we will have a draft of minus 16 metres in a very big operation area.”
“When that happens, then we can compete with the ports around us. So, one of the main reasons why transshipment is going down is that we do not have the capacity now to handle very big ships and very big container ships.”
He explained that “when it comes to bulk cargo, general cargo, that are shipped along the west coasts of Africa, it is the port with the biggest, but when it comes to container, now in Tema port, MPS has 16 metres, we are only 10 metres. But by September next year, we will compete with them” he noted.
About $475 million Takoradi Port expansion project
Ghana in August 2019, started the construction work on the multi-purpose Atlantic Terminal Services on-dock facility at the Takoradi Port, which will entail an investment of $475m.
The expansion of Takoradi Port is part of government’s strategy to make Ghana a trans-shipment hub in the West African Sub-region.
The project is being executed on EPC basis by a joint venture (JV) of Ibistek, an ingenious Ghanaian company, and the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA).
The Royal Haskoning DHV is offering technical consultation.
The first phase of the project was launched in Takoradi on 2 August 2019. The scope of the project includes construction of a 600m quay wall with pavement, while the port basin will be dredged to a 16m depth.
It will also include land reclamation to construct five new berths to enable the port to accommodate larger vessels. The first phase is expected to cost $200m and is slated to complete in next two years.
Ibistek chairman Kwame Gyan told AllAfrica: “This is the first time the locals are building and operating a deep sea port, and we think that the capacity we have developed from project inception through execution shows our capability. Down the road we will end up in the West African sub region.”
Explaining the proposed development during the second phase, Gyan said: “This port will be ready with all the facilities of a first class, and then we continue from phase two to extend the key length from 600m to 1,495m, so we are in it for the long haul. We know that by the grace of God we will get there.”
The Atlantic terminal, when completed, will have a cargo holding capacity of one million twenty-footer equivalent units (TEUs).