TESTING was recently completed at the Ivory Coast's new container terminal, which is due to open in November, reports Fort Lauderdale's Maritime Executive.
The terminal is built by the Chinese and operated in a partnership between companies owned by Maersk and the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC).
The new terminal is seen as a gateway for trade growth in West Africa and part of the major carriers' focus on the opportunities in Africa.
The contract for the construction project was awarded to the China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) in August 2020.
With an annual capacity of 1.5 million TEU, the first phase of the new terminal was projected to cost US$400 million to develop.
The Cote d'Ivoire terminal is operated under a 20-year concession to a joint venture between Bollore, acquired earlier this year by MSC, and Maersk unit, APM Terminals.
"We are pleased to have been able to successfully complete the various tests of our entire operational structure, in terms of both equipment and the work of our teams," said Cote d'Ivoire terminal managing director Koen de Backker.
"This performance means that we are entirely satisfied with the implementation of our operational system and assures us of our team's ability to receive and handle every ship that calls."
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