CONGESTION AT TCIPC: Over 40 Vessels Trapped At Lagos Anchorage , As SIFAX Group Raises Alarm

SIFAX Group owners of Port and Cargo Handling Services  (PCHS) Limited has raised the alarm over 40 vessels that are currently  trapped at the Lagos Anchorage due to the deplorable state of the port access road linking Tin can Island Port.

 

Managing Director, PCHS , Mr. John Jerkins disclosed this on Tuesday , in Lagos during a meeting between the terminal operator and management team of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council led by the Executive Secretary, Barrister Hassan Bello.

 

Jerkins who was responding to some of the questions raised by the council’s management team , reiterated that the terminal records 8,000 TEUs monthly despite the deplorable state of the road but added that the inability for vessels to discharge containers and allow others berth poses serious threat to port business.

 

“I don’t know the number of vessels that are currently at the anchorage now but I know its well above 40 vessels right there at sea.

 

“At least for Ports and Cargo  we have about six to seven  of our vessels stranded at the Lagos anchorage due to the state of the roads”,Jerkins lamented.

 

The MD maintained that the 8,000 TEUs are ferried through barges monthly to the terminal adding that over 100,000 TEUs has-been projected for the year despite the state of the roads.

 

Jerkins reiterated the conglomerates ‘s commitment to invest massively on equipment and manpower development to improve on port efficiency.

 

He admitted that there were more containers to be moved outside the terminal due to the congestion but lamented that the concessionaire was handicap to address the situation of the road.

 

“Everybody want to take everything in by barge and everybody want to take out their containers  by barge as well , at the same time , so the situation is frustrating to our business .

 

While expressing frustration of the roads on port business, the MD stressed by saying:”So it takes 2 hours to move out 20 containers out of the terminal through barging and we do six to eight barging operation a day. But doing 8,000 TEUs in a month is no joke. We want to do better, we can do better but the point that we are not performing should be refuted”,he argued .

 

He called on the government to provide palliative along the second gate round about axis , where a 35meter stretch portion needs urgent attention to allow free flow of vehicles out of the port.

 

He also noted that the congestion was not peculiar to Ports and Cargo terminals alone ,arguing that the SIFAX owned terminal share same gate with the likes of Five Star Logistics Terminal and PTML on exit of consignments.

 

Jerkins stressed that all terminal operators are frustrated due to the deplorable condition of the roads this the government must be held accountable for the lack of infrastructure in port operations.