APM Terminals Apapa expands stacking capacity by 300,000sqm

APM Terminals is perfecting plans to expand container stacking capacity and efficient service delivery at its Apapa container terminal in Lagos by 300,000 square metres.

The company is also expected to take delivery of the first batch of the five Rubber-Tyred-Gantry (RTG) cranes it ordered from Kone Cranes as part of its terminal yard redevelopment and expansion of the largest container terminal in West Africa.

The project, which is the Phase III of the modernisation and upgrade of the facility, includes terminal yard redevelopment and expansion, new staff amenities and customer service building, acquisition of container handling equipment, implementation of new terminal operating systems and a new Customs container inspection facility.

Dallas Hampton, managing director, APM Terminals Apapa, who said in his office in Lagos that the development of 300,000 square meters of the North Yard of terminal was in full swing, added that the new RTGs would be delivered by the end of August this year.

“At the delivery of the RTG cranes in August, the terminal will achieve the first impact of the ongoing development project for increased capacity while the second batch of the remaining five RTGs will be delivered in November this year,” Hampton said.

“Three new Liebherr Mobile Harbour Cranes (MHCs) have been delivered in May 2012 as part of this project while two more will be procured in 2015. Other equipment like tractor trailers, empty handlers, fuel station, FLTs, spreaders are under various stages of procurement and delivery,” he added.

The APM Terminal boss said yard works, which would also involve enhanced lighting and rail siding, would continue till August 2014, further adding that work was also ongoing at the construction site of a three-storey building that would house new staff canteen, locker rooms, break rooms, Customs office and Customer Service Centre.

According to him, the building, which would be delivered by April 2014, would have a new waste water treatment plant that would handle all effluents.

This expansion project was flagged off in February this year by Nils Andersen, chief executive officer of AP Moller-Maersk Group.