APM Terminals breaks ground for expansion

APM Terminals has broken grounds for the construction of a 34.5 million USD container park as part of its port modernization program at the Freeport of Monrovia, the gate way to the nation’s economy.

The ground breaking ceremony initiates the second phase of its expansion project at the port, which is expected to double the port’s current container yard capacity upon completion in 23 months.

APM Terminals Liberia Managing Director Mr. George G. Adjei announced yesterday that the ceremony marked the commencement of a $34.5 million US Dollars terminal modernization program.

He recalled that government signed a 25-year concession agreement with the APM Terminals that mandates the international container terminal operating company to develop and operate the Terminal at the Freeport of Monrovia.

Mr. Adjei says in compliance with the concession agreement, APM Terminals reconstructed and delivered a new and functional 600 meter quay – a concrete lying alongside or projecting into water for loading or offloading ships – with a 50-year warranty.

“This is yet another manifestation of APM Terminals’ commitment towards supporting the Government of Liberia in the country’s development agenda,” said Mr. Adjei.

The APM Terminals Liberia boss said the landslide modernization project will include state-of-the-art safety features; a new administrative and operations building; yard pavement; new cargo gates with various channels; conventional drainage system; bio-metric access control system; close circuit television or CCTV system; real time updates of container movement and GPS based container location system.

Liberia’s Vice President Ambassador Joseph Nyumah Boakai performed the official groundbreaking ceremony at the Freeport of Monrovia Monday, 29 June following a brief indoor program.

Government officials, heads of private and public entities and foreign diplomats including US Ambassador to Liberia Madam Deborah Malac graced the occasion at the National Port Authority or NPA.

In response to complaints heard of delays at the port, Mr. Boakai requested people here to exercise patience because the good things seen in the movies and all round didn’t come just over night.

Mr. Boakai said he was happy to hear that the APM Terminals was now looking for ways to step up the handling of containers which he sees as very important to business people because delays cause a lot of losses.

The NPA’s acting managing director Mr. David F. Williams said as indicated by the APM Terminals management, the construction of the container yard will double the current yard capacity and enhance service delivery at the gate way to the nation’s economy.

With the help of all partners and the NPA’s hardworking staff, Mr. Williams said NPA’s commitment is to always keep the seaport fully operational for the sole purpose of promoting commerce.

“Let me also express on behalf of the National Port Authority that the full implementation of the modern yard project by APM Terminals previously investing $50 million US Dollars … is yet another giant step,” he said.

In Sinoe County, southeast Liberia, Mr. Williams said the APM Terminals has hired the services of local residents from the county to execute the road maintenance project through a corporate social agreement while the Port Authority provides the locals with incentives and benefits. -Edited Othello B. Garblah