Customs officers seize Maersk's Cunene ship
The Meridian Port Services Limited (MPS) received the Maersk Cunene vessel at Berth Number 19 in Terminal 3 at the Port of Tema on September 14, 2022. MPS, famous for its swift response to container market changes and adherence to global standards, oversees a Fixed Berthing Window arrangement at Terminal 3.
Upon arrival, the Maersk Cunene, a vessel with a 4,496 TEU capacity, was met by six cranes, making for an impressive sight. The MPS operational team and staff worked diligently to ensure the vessel's stay was brief, completing its operations in less than a day—22 hours and 45 minutes to be exact.
During the operation, the nett crane productivity ranged from 24 to 31 moves per hour, while the overall nett vessel productivity surpassed 122 moves per hour. With six STS cranes in operation simultaneously, the vessel was discharged and loaded with an average of 89.62 moves per hour.
Mr. Curtiss Dakpogan, MPS's Chief Operations Officer (COO), praised the Cunene's high Crane Density of 4.4, achieved by strategically arranging the Ship to Shore gantry cranes to match her stowage plans. As a result, the MPS operations team started with six STS cranes, then scaled down to four, and finally two, to complete the 3,065 TEUs' discharge and loading in 1,922 crane moves.
"This record-breaking productivity for such a class of vessel truly speaks volumes," said Dakpogan.
Introduced as the first container terminal to provide the Berthing Window Scheme in the sub-region, MPS aims to streamline operations and meet global standards. This arrangement guarantees shipping lines fixed weekly slots of time alongside the quay at Terminal 3, reducing congestion, vessel waiting times at anchorage, and associated congestion surcharges, ultimately saving the nation costs and increasing liner vessel utilization.
The COO of MPS, Mr. Mohammed Samara, emphasized the benefits of the berthing window arrangement, stating, "Not only does it streamline operations, but it also allows shipping lines to plan their arrival more effectively. This, in turn, grants importers and exporters the ability to anticipate when goods will depart or arrive."
Routine port operations are optimized when vessels can plan their arrival and departure times more efficiently, leading to increased port efficiency, reduced waiting times, and enhanced overall customer satisfaction. As part of broader efforts to boost port efficiency and compete effectively, such schemes are being implemented in ports like Tema, where infrastructure development and capacity expansion projects are ongoing. [Source: Infrastructure development and capacity expansion projects in the region]
- The impressive productivity displayed by MPS during the Maersk Cunene's visit, as reported in the finance industry, is expected to positively impact the transportation sector, as streamlined operations and reduced waiting times can lower costs and increase liner vessel utilization.
- As MPS continues to introduce innovative strategies such as the Berthing Window Scheme, a comprehensive report on the industry developments in the market might highlight the positive contribution of efficient port operations towards enhancing finance, transportation, and overall economic growth.
