Business
8-Lane Apapa Wharf Gate Opens, August
In its drive towards continuous modernisation and upgrading of the Apapa Container Terminal, Lagos, APM Terminals Apapa new gate and new set of entry and exit lanes to serve trucks has been said to commence operations in August this year.
The Managing Director, APM Terminals, Mr. Martin Dirks, who disclosed this to newsmen in Lagos, during a recent inspection tour to the on-going construction works at the terminal said the new gate structure would also be fully automated within the period.
Dirks stated that there had been major reformation at ports and terminals to meet up the demands of the maritime sector adding that the construction of the eight lanes to serve trucks coming and going out of the terminal would serve as one of its major efforts towards meeting up the challenge.
According to him, “the construction will consist of eight tarred lanes that will serve as entry and exit for trucks at the terminal”.
Conducting newsmen round the construction work of a new office building and workshop near the exit gate, Dirks explained that the office was meant to serve as ease of visitors’ access adding that the new gate system would stem the tide of container theft at the terminal.
The APM terminal boss, who took reporters to the coupling site of the new Mobile Harbour Crane maintained that the Liebherr LHM 500 was acquired to further boost efficiency and cargo handling operations at the terminal.
He said, “the acquisition of this new mobile harbour crane brings to three the number of LHM 500 cranes at the terminal with the other two previously acquired in November 2008. The new crane is fitted with the same twin lift spreader as the existing two currently in use.
He continued, “the twin lift spreader allows the operator to lift two twenty-feet containers back-to-back at the same time and this ensures high productivity”.
Dirks further explained that the Liebherr LHM 500 cranes were absolutely phenomenal machines that are capable of assisting workers achieve a very high turnover.
Dirks, who noted that the new crane was fitted with latest technology said it had a camera mounted on the boom that faces down to allow clear view and monitoring by the operator.