- Woos shipping lines to container holding bay facilities
Inland container depots owned by SIFAX Group recorded a total of 49,835 TEUs for the 2020 business year notwithstanding the prevailing traffic congestion around the Lagos ports and its attendant consequences on businesses.
However, the figure represents a slight drop in performance compared to 2019 when the Sifax off docks, comprising terminals at Trinity, Mid-Maritime, and Okota 1 & 2 – all based in Lagos, grossed 50,452 TEUs.
Of the total container volumes achieved, SIFAX Off Dock Trinity had 13,109 TEUs for containers gated in and 12,468 TEUs for containers gated out, as against 19,014 gated in and 20,369 gated out in 2019.
SIFAX Mid-Maritime Terminal witnessed an increase in its 2020 TEU volume with a record of 6,062 TEUs and 6,517 TEUs for containers gated in and out respectively, as against 2,609 TEUs and 1,727 TEUs respectively in 2019.
SIFAX Off Dock, Okota Terminal 1, recorded 2,195 and 2,147 TEUs for in and out containers respectively in 2020, as against 3,096 and 3,137 TEUs recorded in 2019, while Okota Terminal 2’s 2020 performance shows an increase of 3,596 and 3,351 for containers gated in and out in comparison to its 2019 performance of 364 TEUs in and 136 TEUs out respectively in 2019.
Meanwhile, the Executive Director, SIFAX Off Dock, Capt. Ibraheem Olugbade, disclosed that the terminals have put various strategies in place to consolidate their prime positions and grow profitability in 2021.
“In order to mitigate the effects of the road construction on SIFAX Mid-Maritime, we have begun dredging the waterside of the terminal and erecting exit security gate in preparation for berthing of barges at the terminal, a statement from the company quoted Olugbode to say.
“In addition, the off docks at Okota are also receiving boxes through transfer by barges. Parts of the terminal floor have been renovated and strengthened to cope with more volumes.
“There have been several market drives with several shipping lines to take advantage of the new initiative and proximity to the major express road, and to also use as holding bays for their empties in line with NPA call-up system regime.
“SBT Trinity terminal is temporarily closed due to the ongoing road construction along the Mile 2-Apapa Expressway, which we expect to be fully operational on completion of the road in the next couple of weeks.”
For now, the consignments stemmed for Trinity terminal are transferred to Ijora Container and Okota bonded terminals for a seamless and efficient cargo clearing process, Olugbade said, adding that necessary facilities have been provided at the two terminals to cope with the expected surge in business.
