Shippers’ Council orders reduction of cargo dwell time at ports

The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) yesterday ordered the management of Tin Can Island Container Terminal Ltd (TICT) to reduce its cargo dwell time to attract more customers. The Executive Secretary of the NSC, Mr Hassan Bello, gave the directive during a courtesy visit by the council’s management team to TICT at Tin-Can Island Port, Lagos.
Bello said government had mandated the council to visit all the terminals and ensure smooth operation. “We want you to be effective and efficient because very soon we will be coming from time to time to audit your performance and create equilibrium.
“It is important for TICT terminal to register with the NSC for monitoring your affairs in making sure that the company works according to the rules and agreement of concession,’’ the executive secretary said. He urged the management of the terminal not to delay in the handling of cargo as well as return of empty containers to the terminal.
Bello also observed that the terminal had limited space for empty containers.
He, however, promised to acquaint the management of TICT with the scientific way of handling cargo traffic to reduce gridlock at Tin-Can area.
Bello also said there was the need to review the concession agreement, adding that it would be done with the involvement of all the terminal operators “because we know they are operating without power supply. A lot of accidents had occurred which had claimed many lives as a result of reckless driving and bad roads in Tin-Can area.
“We want to have a port community system where there will be equilibrium in shipping operation which will enable us have limited time for cargo clearance,’’ he said.
Bello expressed dissatisfaction with the crowd at the entrance and advised the management of the company to introduce online booking. The executive secretary said the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) had improved drastically on dredging as well as berthing. Mr Etienne Rocher, Chief Executive Officer of TICT, promised to improve on all the complaints presented by the NSC.
Rocher said the terminal was operating 21-day cargo dwell time as at 2013, adding that the terminal was now operating 16-day cargo dwell time.
“The terminal’s major challenge is external which include the bad road network which leads to the terminal. We want the regulator to come in and assist. Nigerian ports have improved in terms of operation, equipment and Turn Around Time of vessels which has streamlined all processes internally. We are also operating off- dock terminals at Kirikiri and Apapa to reduce cargo traffic at the Tin-Can area, ‘’ Rocher said.
He, however said that the TICT management would key into online processing as well improve on employing more Nigerian in the company.