The port manager, Rivers port in Port Harcourt, Mr Dele Alabi has disclosed that activities are gradually picking up in the Port Harcourt port, even a she expressed optimism that the port’s fortunes are expected to soar as it begins working towards handling container vessels.
He told Shipping Position Weekly recently in Port Harcourt that even though the two concessionaires are doing their best to attract patronage to the port, ultimately, the port hopes to join the league of container handling ports soon.
“We are happy that the terminal operators are gearing up for that and relevant strategies are being put in place to achieve this. One of the terminal operators have just brought in brand new equipment; Kalmar 45 tonnes, 40 tonnes; in fact, as I speak with you, the equipment are being assembled. There are about 10 of them and they are all brand new”, he disclosed.
“We are just waiting for that traffic to come and once the traffic comes, things will never be the same again, because once you start handling containers, you put in less energy and you discharge more containers, in terms of productivity and throughput, you achieve more .We are happy about it , waiting and ready for it”, he declared.
On the possibility of being seen as wanting to compete with Onne port (also in Rivers state) in the quest to commence handling of containerised cargoes, the port manager explained that there is no basis for that, because according to him, the two ports are sister ports and each port has its peculiarities.
“Onne port is our sister port, we are here to complement them, whatever traffic that Onne port or even Lagos port or Tin Can can not handle, we are all ports under the Nigerian Ports Authourity, it is not a case of competition, but that of performing complementary roles”, he explained.
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