Thirteen years into concession, the Ecomarine Terminals Limited, the concessionaire in charge of cargo handling at the Calabar Port, has finally received its maiden container vessel.
The berthing of MV Boreas, a vessel belonging to Marguisa Shipping Line, in Calabar Port signifies a milestone achieved through strategic marketing carried out by the terminal operator.
The vessel, which has gross registered tonnage of 6,569 came with both laden and empty containers, and successfully anchored at ECM Terminals at about 13.27 hrs on Monday 23 September.
Diran Akorede, general manager of ECM, said the berthing of the container vessel at the port was the crowning moment of the several efforts put into attracting a liner service to Calabar Port.
“In October last year, we had preliminary discussion with Marguisa representative on the possibility of commencing calls to Calabar. To make the call viable to Marguisa, we made several concessions on rates and co-opted other stakeholders into the efforts followed with road shows to sensitise potential clients. The maiden call of the vessel was the outcome,” he said.
He said the terminal has invested massively on container handling equipment in preparation for receipt of container vessels.
Akorede commended the Hadiza Bala Usman-led management of the NPA for the partnership given to the concessionaire over the years. He said Usman from inception had given priority attention to resolving some of the key challenges that have bedevilled the port.
“We are ISO-certified and have well documented processes to ensure transparency and efficiency in our service delivery. Our systems are fully automated and the facility is fully ISPS compliant,” he said.
On development in the terminal, he said the terminal operator had paved the stacking area, which has remained unutilised over the years.
“We have been prepared from the inception to handle the discharge of cargo in the best professional manner. Our pact with Marguisa is to provide and ensure efficient service delivery, quick turnaround for vessels and an incentive scheme to support and make their voyage profitable,” he stated.
BusinessDay recalls that Calabar has suffered low patronage from container liners due to issues around draft limitations and insecurity. Currently, Calabar channel has a draft of 6.4 meters at high tide, but requires a complete dredging to the draft of 9.4 meters to attract regular and bigger tonnage.
Akorede, who said the terminal was ready to receive more container vessels, enjoined the ports authority to introduce a more effective incentive scheme such as 30 percent rebate hitherto in place before the concession.
He further called on the government to ensure quick completion of the road construction from Odukpani Junction through Ikot Ekpene to Aba, already awarded to Julius Berger to further facilitate patronage and ease evacuation of cargoes from Calabar.
