Business
Onne OMT Port Acquires 2 Cranes For Container Haulage
Onne Multipurpose Terminal (OMT), a subsidiary of International Container Terminal Services Inc (ICTSI), has commissioned two new mobile harbour cranes at the Federal Ocean Terminal (FOT), in Onne, Rivers State.
The two cranes are part of the state-of-the-art container freight haulage to offer value-added services for importers and exporters.
The investment totals $25 million, with the harbour cranes being imported from Germany, each with capacity of delivering 25 tons of containers per hour and an outreach of 20 containers across.
These mobile harbour cranes are the biggest ever deployed in a Nigerian port and will set a new standard by allowing larger vessels than ever to call Nigeria.
Speaking during the commissioning at the quay area of OMT Terminal at FOT, the Managing Director of Nigeria Port Authority (NPA), Abubakar Dantsoho, represented by the Onne Port Manager, Abdulrahmon Hussain, commended OMT for their investments.
He noted that in recent years OMT has improved tremendously and shown its commitment to improve Nigeria’s economy.
“This is a big victory for the company, for NPA, and for the Nigerian economy. You see what OMT has done. The two Harbour Cranes will bring in more businesses to the country, more revenue to FG, to investors and to others”, Hussain stated.
He said the dogged determination of OMT to continue investing in state-of-the-art equipment, to ensure ease of business, is in line with the policy drive and vision of NPA Managing Director, Dantsoho who, on visiting OMT, had emphasised continuous port investments to enhance smooth operations of the port and boost FG revenue.
The Onne Port Manager also spoke on the need for collaboration between investors, government agencies, importers, agents and other stakeholders or agencies.
“I want to thank OMT Management again for this bold step in increasing your investment capacity in the Maritime/Blue Economy”, he said.
According to him, with this kind of investment, if emulated by other operators, Nigeria’s economy will boom, and become a maritime hub in the Sub-African region.
Earlier, the Managing Director of Onne Multi Purpose Terminal, Mr. Jacob Gulmann, thanked NPA for its pro-active and strong leadership in developing the blue economy and the role of Nigeria Customs, NDLEA, Agents, Importers, Communities and other stakeholders for their contributions to the shipping industry.
He particularly thanked OMT shipping line customers, MSC and PIL, Nigeria’s end-customers (the importers and exporters), and agents for their show of support and patronage saying, “Without you, none of us would be in business. So, we wish to say a big thank you to all of you”.
The MD said the introduction of the new cranes for OMT operations is a major milestone: “these cranes are the biggest mobile harbour cranes operating across Nigerian ports and they will allow our customers, MSC and PIL, to bring in the largest vessels to call Nigeria”.
In their separate speeches, Mike Ebeatu of Association of Nigerian Licences Customs Agents (ANLCA), Chairman, Onne Sea Port Chapter, thanked OMT for its continuous investments: “the right equipment will improve vessel dwell time and check-mate demurrage”.
Chief Commercial Officer for Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), Udi Goldberg, and Chief Commercial Officer for Pacific International Lines (PIL), Olawunmi Akinyemi, both complimented OMT on the large-scale investments in equipment and warehousing which they see as another indicator of ICTSI’s commitment to their customers.
Customs Deputy Controller of Admin, represented by Customs Area 11 Controller, Onne Seaport, Mohammed Babandede, said Customs are happy with OMT, for procuring 2 additional harbour cranes.
“We are not surprised. What we are seeing here today is an organization – OMT – that decides to be serious and committed to addressing operational challenges. You did it, not only for your benefit, but for the benefit of all Nigerians “, Customs Controller, Babandede stated.
Also, a warehouse built and completed for stacking and storing of materials by OMT was commissioned by Customs Area 11 Controller, Mohammed Babandede, who was represented by Deputy Controller Admin, C. C Nwokorie.
Among dignitaries that attended the event were Ports Authority Police DPO, Onne Port, prominent Bonded Warehouse Chief Executives, including Kingso, Godify.
In an interview, Chief Odigbo Blais Chigozie, CEO of Great Focus, congratulated OMT on the two acquired harbour Cranes.