THE management of Lekki deep seaport in Lagos will be able to handle ships of up to 18,000 TEU. The port has already finished half of the work involved in building the breakwater, reported Ajuba's Daily Trust.
Lekki port's technical director Steven Heukelom said the port would have a water depth of 16.5 metres that can be dredged to 19 metres and three berths to take care of wet, bulk and container cargoes,' Mr Heukelom said.
'It will have enough room to accommodate container ships of up to 18,000 TEU. Phase one capacity will be about 1.2 million TEU per year, rising to 2.5 million TEU in phase two' with a shipping channel of 1.9 kilometres.
'The extra space is expected to take pressure off of Apapa and Tin Can Island ports, which are presently challenged by congestion and access road traffic,' Mr Heukelom said.
He projected that the new port facility and the adjacent Lagos free trade zone would have a major impact on the Nigerian economy, including drawing 50 per cent of its work force from neighbouring communities. Furthermore, construction work on the breakwater has reached an advance stage, having finished one kilometre on the breakwater.
The technical director also said that the project was crucial for the economic growth of the Lagos free trade zone, as it would support the mega industrial and petrochemical complex being embarked at Ibeju.
In addition, discussion of how to link the port by rail between promoters of the port and the federal government was continuing to tackle the problem of traffic congestion in the area.
WORLD SHIPPING
Lekki port's technical director Steven Heukelom said the port would have a water depth of 16.5 metres that can be dredged to 19 metres and three berths to take care of wet, bulk and container cargoes,' Mr Heukelom said.
'It will have enough room to accommodate container ships of up to 18,000 TEU. Phase one capacity will be about 1.2 million TEU per year, rising to 2.5 million TEU in phase two' with a shipping channel of 1.9 kilometres.
'The extra space is expected to take pressure off of Apapa and Tin Can Island ports, which are presently challenged by congestion and access road traffic,' Mr Heukelom said.
He projected that the new port facility and the adjacent Lagos free trade zone would have a major impact on the Nigerian economy, including drawing 50 per cent of its work force from neighbouring communities. Furthermore, construction work on the breakwater has reached an advance stage, having finished one kilometre on the breakwater.
The technical director also said that the project was crucial for the economic growth of the Lagos free trade zone, as it would support the mega industrial and petrochemical complex being embarked at Ibeju.
In addition, discussion of how to link the port by rail between promoters of the port and the federal government was continuing to tackle the problem of traffic congestion in the area.
WORLD SHIPPING