By Akanimo Sampson
By the end of November this year, the first phase of the ongoing Atlantic Multipurpose Terminal project, is expected to be delivered.
Chief Executive Officer of Atlantic Terminal Services Limited, Dr. Felix Nana Sackey, who gave the assurance says the job is currently 71% complete.
”We are at the tail end of the construction of this phase and we believe that come November 2021, this facility would be ready for operations”, the CEO says.
The $210 million project broke ground in August 2019 with Jan De Nul Civil Engineering company as the contractor and Royal Haskoning DVH as the consulting engineer.
So far the dredging of a 600m quay wall with -16m depth is completed, with the construction of the capping beam and terminal’s yard space of 10 hectares ongoing.
According to Sackey, the berths depth is the critical game-changer in the maritime industry in the West African region as it will position the Atlantic Terminal and the Port of Takoradi at large at a competitive advantage owing to the terminals ability to receive the largest container vessels in the world.
He also disclosed that state-of-the-art equipment which includes Ship to Shore Cranes and Mobile Harbour Cranes have been procured and that their transfer onto the terminal space will follow gradual procedure.
The entire Atlantic Multipurpose Terminal project is meant for the handling, storage, and delivery of Containers, RoRo cargo, General Cargo, and Agribulk products such as cocoa and wheat.
It includes the development of an access channel and turning basin of -17.0m deep, two 16m deep berths of 795m long, three 14m deep berths of 900m, as well as road and rail connections.
The total terminal area is 61 hectares.