the management of the Takoradi Port is to expand facilities at the port in readiness for the expected oil boom. This is to ensure the free flow of traffic, especially for vehicles carting supplies for the oil drilling companies.
The first phase of the expansion project, which is expected to be undertaken in December this year, is estimated to cost about $60 million. In line with the designated areas, oil berths will be located at the main breakwaters, which when completed could accommodate one big vessel and three other smaller supply vessels.
The break-water would be removed and the area reclaimed and elevated.
The Director of the Takoradi Port, Mr Nestor Percy Galley, told the Daily Graphic that the consultants of the project had come up with three alternatives for consideration.
The director said by the end of the first phase management would be able to create more berths.
“One major work to be done under the expansion project is dredging of the breakwaters and I can tell you on authority that this is our biggest challenge. It costs $3 per cubic metre to dredge when the place is not muddy, but at the Takoradi Port it will cost us $100 per cubic metre to dredge,” he said.
The port manager said management would try as much as possible to do minimal dredging, and undertake more filling which is less expensive.
He said the expansion work was very important because at present the port had six berths and each was about 150 metres long but the vessels berthing there were longer than the current length.
Currently, the berths can accommodate only four modern vessels instead of six, which is not good for us and after completing the expansion project we can comfortably handle those vessels,” he said.
He said by the end of the first phase of the expansion project most of the services involving double handling at the port would have been eliminated to allow for smooth operations.
Mr Galley said port development was a very expensive venture, and that in 2002 management advertised for private investors to get involved but there was no response because of the cost involved. Besides there was the perception that there were no prospects in doing port business.
“But with the oil find people have started moving in to enquire if they could do business at the port even before the designs were completed and advertised.
Therefore, it is possible we might be going into partnership with other investors, and the banks at present are likely to even support our expansion drive,” he said.
Mr Galley said prospects were that traffic to the port would increase and therefore those who would invest could recoup their investments in no time.
“In the past money was our problem, but at present we are well placed to attract funding,” Mr Galley said.
He said the development of a port took time and the project was being done in phases, “so that by the end of the first phase there will be enough room to contain the traffic while the focus is shifted to main projects.”
He said what was good was that the oil itself would not be at the Takoradi port, but the supply services such as the cargo, pipes, and other items which would be supplied to the operation site would be at the port.
Responding to assertions that if enough space was not created management would have to use facilities in neighbouring Cote d’Ivoire, he said there were initial concerns about that because most of the supplies needed for the initial drillings had to be lifted from neighbouring countries where the facilities were available.
“But at present there is a mud plant now at the Takoradi port and in less than three to four hours the mud, water and other supplies to the rigs are lifted. All these services can now be accessed here at the port, and therefore the companies might turn their attention to us,” he said.
“At the moment traffic is flowing, but when the pipes that would be used for the major work starts coming that will be a challenge but we will be up to the task,” he said.
Mr Galley said the manganese wharf had been given out to be developed into a repair facility in readiness for other services that might be needed in the area of repairs or check-ups on the vessels.
The dry dock, which is also almost finished for inauguration next month, would provide the platform for such mechanical services.
Every year the rig must be inspected and it would not be prudent economically to let go such important services. He said as the oil would not be coming to Takoradi port, management would ensure that the services that would be required by the oil business community are provided for the port to make maximum returns.
He said when the expansion project was completed the port could receive between 10 to 15 vessels in the dock at a time.
Takoradi port is strategically located between the ports of Tema and Abidjan, and also connected to its hinterland, which makes it the preferred and ideal gateway to the middle and northern parts of Ghana and the Sahelian countries such as Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali.
The port of Takoradi was the country’s first port built in 1928 to handle both import and export traffic.
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