Maputo invests R7-m in new container handlers

Leonard Neill
THE PORT of Maputo further extended its competitive challenge last Friday with the unveiling of two new top lift container handling loaders.
They're an indication of the port's concerted effort to make Maputo a vital role player in the southern African shipping industry, Mozambique minister of transport Dr Tomaz Salomao told FTW at the official ceremony in Mozambique.
The two new machines are capable of lifting 45 tons each and are able to stack containers four high. They represent an investment of R7-million, all of which was financed by Mozambique International Ports Services (MIPS).
"The equipment was acquired to cope with the volume growth we have experienced," said MIPS chief executive Jorge Ferraz.
"When MIPS took over management of the container terminal in 1996, the volume handled for that year was around 7 000 TEUs. Today we handle 35 000 TEUs annually, although that is still far from our target. But with equipment of this nature we can step up operations dramatically.
"This latest move involved us in massive investment. But it is of crucial importance to increased productivity and consequently will impact positively on the port's efficiency and the national economy in general."
The equipment has been named 'Maputo' and 'Rovuma' as historically these words represent the whole of Mozambique united after independence, said Ferraz.