The Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) has taken delivery of two multi-purpose high-speed mobile cranes to augment its fleet of vessel handling equipment in anticipation of an increase in container traffic at the country’s ports.

The Liebherr cranes, each weighing 144 tonnes, have the capacity to handle heavy lift cargoes, container, and general cargoes.

Purchased at the cost of 11.4 million euros, the cranes form part of the GPHA’s multi-billion-dollar project to retool the country’s ports to be able to handle bigger vessels.

They come with features which allow them to be controlled by a remote sensor and this will increase the speed of work.

With ports playing a key role in the global supply chain, ensuring efficiency, the cranes would among other benefit decrease ships’ stay period in ports.

That would also translate into customer satisfaction and increase profitability, thus the arrival of the crane would expedite processes and further reduce transport tariffs for port users.

One of the cranes has been named after Ing Charles Andrew Anti Okae, a retired mechanical engineer of the GPHA. Mr. Okae is said to have transformed the ports then dilapidated mechanical workshop into a modern one.

New equipment

The Director of Ports of the GPHA, Mr. Jacob Kobla Adorkor, who received the equipment on behalf of the authority last Saturday in Tema, said the recent changes at the port had made it possible for bigger container vessels to call there.

“In the coming months, we will be taking delivery of marine craft and patrol boats, as well as reach stackers, forklifts, and terminal roll on, roll over (RoRo) tractors with trailers used to transport cargo containers from vessels to various terminals, to equip our operations,” he stated.

He also explained that the authority instituted a project in 2013 to name some of its facilities and equipment after the past and present workers who had worked with commitment and dedication.

Paying tribute to Ing Okae, who retired from the GPHA after 15 years of service, Mr. Adorkor said Ing Okae not only transformed the authority’s mechanical workshop but also saw the need to involve women in technical operations.

Ing Okae

An elated Ing Okae, who was at the port with his family to receive the equipment, commended former and present workers of the GPHA whose cooperation made it possible for him to excel in his role as the then chief mechanical engineer.

He said the decision of the GPHA came to him as a surprise, considering that there were equally very competent people who worked with him at the time.


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