Maputo sets its sights on record year

US$5-million investment projected for 2005 LEONARD NEILL MAPUTO CONTAINER terminal operators are eyeing a magical figure. Can they top the 45 000 TEU figure by the end of this year, making 2004 their best year since the start of the R88-million upgrade of the facility eight years ago. In 1996 the terminal handled a throughput of 8800 TEUs. Last year this had risen - year-on-year - to 39486. It’s a figure that has been increasing annually, and MIPS is hoping to hold up a 45 000 figure this year. That’s 45% of total capacity. It isn’t likely to end there as the next few years roll on. Maputo International Port Services (MIPS) chief executive Jorge Ferraz speaks confidently of what the future holds. More and more cargo owners in South Africa are showing interest in the upgraded Maputo harbour facilities, he says. All it needs is a speedier border post operation and the entire story of Mozambique’s gateway to the east will change dramatically. Mozambique itself has a buoyant economy, and this coupled with ever increasing transit cargo means business aplenty for the port. An investment of US$5million has been projected for 2005. It includes the acquisition of two RMG cranes (35tons) for the storage of full containers and one type RMG gantry crane (10tons) for the storage of empty containers. Average berth occupancy is little more than 30%, which means almost no delay in turnaround times of vessels. Currently there are five regular container services calling at the terminal. Unifeeder, serves the southern and eastern African coast on a weekly basis. MSC and GCL both call on East Africa and South Asia routes every 10 days. MACS serves southern Africa and West Europe, and Messina, with its East Africa and Mediterranean services, calls monthly. Average dwell time for cargo in the port is 12 days. With an average off load of 82TEUs per ship call, and on-load of 87 TEUs per ship call, the MIPS chief is confident that once the value of Maputo as a port to the sub-continent is fully appreciated, it will take its place among the busiest on the African continent. Ferraz has always asserted that MIPS and Maputo harbour as a whole are not competing with South African ports. “We see Maputo as a complement to reduce the pressure that SA ports are facing. The growth projected in various industries and mining sectors should be enough to ensure that the terminal operates at 100% capacity levels,” he says with confidence.