Meridian Port Services Limited (MPS) has procured and installed an additional container scanner at MPS Terminal 3 aiming to improve operational efficiency for the port, bringing to six the total number of drive-through container scanners installed in the terminal.
The company’s Head of Construction, Mr. Matthieu Ferraro, handing over the facility to the Operations Team, said the acquisition was backed by MPS’s consistency in port development and innovative vision.
“When you look at the growth of volumes, since the start of operations at MPS Terminal 3 there has been steady volume increase. In addition, I would say this is being proactive to have reserve capacity and a good response to the foreseen future,” said Mr. Ferraro.
He emphasised that the new scanner will serve as a back up to the other five scanners during routine maintenance without interrupting the flow of cargo and that the new facility was not going to result in redundant capacity.
CEO of MPS Mr. Mohamed Samara highlighted the potentials of the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) which takes off January 2021.
“While we advocate to play a pivotal role as a nation, we must also look at the vital investments that will gear up our facilities to present a secure trading platform and enhance our role as a gateway to the economy,” said Mr. Samara.
The HCVP Scanner is a latest of its kind drive-through portal for the inspection of trucks, containers and other vehicles providing the Customs officers with cargo manifest verification against the captured X-ray images, reducing the need for manual inspections. It can also detect drugs, explosives and weapons.
Its accelerators allow for steel penetration from 230mm (9in) to 300mm (11.8in) while providing a high throughput. It has a small carbon footprint with the ability to allow a throughput of 100 to 120 vehicles per hour.
The CEO of MPS put emphasis on the sophisticated software of the Container Scanners that has been put to the exclusive use of the Customs Division of Ghana Revenue Authority and the respective government agencies for enhancing boarder security and safeguarding the state revenue while providing the highest operational standards to the port users.
“This cutting-edge machinery is part of the MPS’s long standing vision of creating a digitally advanced port facility integrated with the latest technology. It is also in line with the Vice President’s ease-of-doing-business measures that MPS has implemented to enhance Tema Port’s competitiveness and attract more cargo”, the CEO said.
MPS is a joint venture between the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority and Meridian Port Holdings Limited, with Bolloré Transport and Logistics and APM Terminals. Over the years, MPS continued to complement the country’s trade volume growth with investments in equipment and technology to boost Tema Port’s handling capacity.
MPS is the region’s most efficient container terminal, it provides the shipping lines with the highest productivity levels (discharge/load) with real-time electronic data interchange using top-notch terminal operating systems.