The West Africa Container Terminal (WACT) has announced that on March 22, 2023, it took a step closer to achieving its goal of turning Onne Port, Rivers State, into the gateway to East Nigeria and beyond by commissioning 16 brand-new terminal trucks.
The extra equipment for handling containers will speed up the already rapid turnaround times for ships calling WACT. With the purchase and deployment of the new terminal trucks, WACT can now brag that it has 36 terminal trucks in use. The trucks were purchased as part of a new investment of USD112 million by APM Terminals to upgrade and expand the terminal, according to the managing director of WACT, Naved Zafar.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony of the new trucks, Frederik Klinke, the country managing director of APM Terminals Nigeria, praised WACT for purchasing and deploying the new trucks.
According to him, the upgrading included the purchase of empty handlers, terminal trucks, forklifts, Rubber Tyred Gantry (RTG) cranes, Mobile Harbour Cranes (MHCs), and these. Together with expanding the current yard, building a new workshop, and constructing a new terminal gate complex, it also entails the deployment of reefer racks with a 600-plug capacity.
According to Zafar, the purchase and commissioning of the new terminal trucks show APM Terminal’s dedication to the nation and the part WACT is playing in the trade and economic development of Nigeria.
APM Terminals owns and runs WACT, which commenced doing business in 2006. The Public-Private Partnership (PPP) approach was used to build Nigeria’s first Greenfield container terminal.
In Onne Port, Rivers State, the terminal is situated inside the Oil and Gas Free Zone. It has developed over time into the most effective integrator to markets outside the Lagos region and is a significant gateway to East Nigeria.
