New intermodal container depot to free up Maputo terminal

The efficiency of the Container
Terminal in Maputo is due to be
improved with the opening of a
70 000 sqm intermodal container
depot facility that will be built at
the northern entrance to the port.
Frans Visser, CEO Maputo
International Container Depot
(MICD), says the new depot will
be able to handle 66 000 TEUs of
full and empty containers a year.
We have provided 10 000 sqm
of concrete slab for packing of
bulk minerals as well as an
8 000-sqm warehouse for handling
of general cargo such as sugar,
rice, paper and stainless steel.
Additional services offered by
the MICD will include container
inspections, cleaning and repairs
and reefer containers, pre-trip
inspection and storage.
Sharing the DP World Maputo
Terminal Operating System,
MICD will be fully integrated
into the terminal operations. In
effect the MICD will be used as
an extended stacking area for DP
World Maputo terminal.
The MICD is already operating,
using 15 000 sqm of land leased
from the port authority (MPDC).
“We are testing our systems
ahead of the first phase to ensure
seamless transition when starting
up the new facility.
“The objective is to free up
valuable space in the container
terminal in order to improve the
container handling productivity.
“For cargo owners, the
advantages are reduced truck
standing time at the container
terminal gates; improved truck
turnaround times; professional
and cost-effective warehousing
and packing/unpacking services
within the port precinct,” he says.
“For shipping lines, the
advantages are improved
terminal operations, resulting in
shorter ship turnaround time and
cost-effective empty container
handling, storage and repairs.
“But, whatever the service,
the aim is to keep the containers
continuously flowing”,
says Visser