Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf in this report gives a bird’s eye view of some countries running 24-hour port operations, by which Nigeria hopes to benchmark its ports operations going forward
Unlike Nigeria, where port operation is synonymous with drudgery and other associated worries, some countries are better off as they run rather seamless operations at their various ports.
Singapore
The Port of Singapore is currently the world’s second-busiest port in terms of total shipping tonnage, it also trans-ships a fifth of the world’s shipping containers, half of the world’s annual supply of crude oil, and is the world’s busiest transshipment port. It was also the busiest port in terms of total cargo tonnage handled until 2005, when it was surpassed by the Port of Shanghai. Thousands of ships drop anchor in the harbour, connecting the port to over 600 other ports in 123 countries and spread over six continents.
The port is the world’s busiest port in terms of shipping tonnage handled, with 1.15 billion gross tons (GT) handled in 2005. In terms of cargo tonnage, Singapore is behind Shanghai with 423 million freight tons handled. The port retains its position as the world’s busiest hub for transshipment traffic in 2005, and is also the world’s biggest bunkering hub, with 25 million tonnes sold in the same year.
Singapore is ranked first globally in 2005 in terms of containerised traffic, with 23.2 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) handled. High growth in containerised traffic has seen the port overtaking Hong Kong since the first quarter of 2005, and has led the race ever since, with an estimated 19,335 kTEUs handled in the year up to October, compared to 18,640 kTEUs handled in Hong Kong in the same period.
Antwerp
The Port of Antwerp, in Belgium, is Europe’s second-largest seaport, after Rotterdam. Antwerp stands at the upper end of the tidal estuary of the Scheldt. The estuary is navigable by ships of more than 100,000 gross tons as far as 80km inland. Like Hamburg, the Port of Antwerp’s inland location provides a more central location in Europe than the majority of North Sea ports.
Antwerp’s docks are connected to the hinterland by rail, road, and river and canal waterways. As a result, the port of Antwerp has become one of Europe’s largest sea ports, ranking second behind Rotterdam by total freight shipped. Its international rankings vary from 11th to 20th.
In October 2010, the port approved a long-term investment plan, worth 1.6 billion Euros over the next 15 years. The port would improve existing facilities, and acquire land from General Motors which is closing its Antwerp factory.
In 2012, the Port of Antwerp handled 14,220 sea trade ships (190.8 million tons of cargo, 53.6% in containers), 57,044 inland barges (123.2 million tons of cargo), and offered liner services to 800 different maritime destinations.
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi Ports (formally Abu Dhabi Ports Company ADPC) was established in March, 2006 by Emiri Decree No., as a master developer of ports and industrial zones in Abu Dhabi. It manages eleven commercial, logistics, community and leisure ports, including its flagship state-of-the-art, deep-water Khalifa Port. It is also developing Kizad (Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi). Located adjacent to Khalifa Port, Kizad serves a range of logistics and manufacturing investors and is destined to grow into one of the world’s largest industrial zones.
By 2030, Khalifa Port and Kizad are expected to contribute up to 15% of the emirate’s non-oil GDP. The first-phase development of this megaproject reflects an investment of AED 26.5 billion ($7.2billion) and has been described as the “single most important project in Abu Dhabi’s economy.”
Abu Dhabi Ports operates all commercial, logistics, community and leisure ports in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, including Zayed Port, the Free Port, Musaffah Port and the five Western Region Ports in Al Gharbia (Western Region) that support local industry, fishing, tourism, logistics and leisure activities. It also operates the New Musaffah Channel, which links Musaffah Port to the sea.
Hamburg
The Port of Hamburg is Germany’s largest port and is named the country’s “Gateway to the World” (Tor zur Welt). In terms of TEU throughput, Hamburg is the second-busiest port in Europe (after Rotterdam) and 15th-largest worldwide. In 2014, 9.73 million TEUs (20-foot standard container equivalents) were handled in Hamburg. The harbour covers an area of 73.99 km² (64.80 km² usable), of which 43.31 km² (34.12 km²) are land areas. The location is naturally advantaged by a branching Elbe, creating an ideal place for a port complex with warehousing and transshipment facilities. The extensive free port enabled toll-free storing, but this was abandoned in 2013.
The port is almost as old as the history of Hamburg itself. Founded on 7 May 1189 by Frederick I for its strategic location, it has been Central Europe’s main port for centuries and enabled Hamburg to develop early into a leading city of trade with a rich and proud bourgeoisie.
Hamburg is a major cruise destination and one of Europe’s largest ports of call for cruise passengers traveling the Atlantic, or the Norwegian and Baltic Seas. The port is also a major location for shipbuilder and shipyards, designing, building and reconditioning yachts and cruise liners. Hamburg has three passenger terminals for cruise ships: Hamburg Cruise Center HafenCity, the Hamburg Cruise Center Altona and the Hamburg Cruise Center Steinwerder, all three capable of processing the world’s largest cruise ships.
Durban
The Port of Durban, commonly called Durban Harbour, is the largest and busiest shipping terminal in sub-Saharan Africa. It handles up to 31.4 million tons of cargo each year. The Port of Durban in Durban, South Africa is the fourth largest container terminal in the Southern Hemisphere, handling 2,568,124 TEU in 2012.
Durban is Africa’s busiest general cargo port and home to one of the largest and busiest container terminals in the Southern Hemisphere. The port has a total of 59 effective berths excluding those used by fishing vessels and ship repair.