MSC, the world’s largest container carrier, has been taking care of oversized project cargo freight that won’t fit in 20 or 40-foot boxes for over 40 years. From Asia to West Africa and all over the globe, MSC’s specialised teams are capable and ready to deal with various requests for oversized cargo.
The company’s extensive inventory of specialist equipment allows it to transport large, heavy, and irregular-sized cargo. For example, the shipping line can handle cargo using floating, mobile, or gantry cranes. In addition, its teams are extensively trained and offer destination-specific knowledge and support for oversized cargo requiring special equipment such as platforms, open top containers, or flat racks.
Africa is increasingly benefiting from this niche area of cargo shipping. For breakbulk cargo being transported to West Africa, MSC offers direct connections to its Lomé hub in Togo from across the world. From Lomé, MSC can directly arrange for cargo to be brought anywhere in the West Africa region, for example, Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire, Benin, or imported into Togo itself.
Detail-oriented and dedicated
MSC recently transported three breakbulk packages of piping from Tianjin, China, to its terminal in Lomé, where they were then sent onwards to their final destination in Nigeria. The pipes will ultimately be used to develop the energy sector, feeding into the country’s industrialisation.
MSC pays maximum attention to the entire process and all operation levels. As far as the planning and transportation process of large shipments are concerned, as soon as MSC receives the request for quotation, a task force is activated in order to evaluate the feasibility and the risks that may occur during the treatment of the packages and to make corrections.
The three packages of cargo were inspected by on-site experts in Tianjin, and then two were loaded using a shore gantry crane and one using a floating crane for the heavier weight. The team of stevedores ensured that each piece of cargo was safely attached to the lifting systems, and each piece was loaded onto a designated flat track container. They were then safely stored and lashed once loaded onto the ship by the team on the ground. Each package was lashed individually in the manner best suited to the weight and size of the cargo.
Justin Ohuonu, Port Captain and Terminal Efficiency Manager, explained the process at the LCT: “The Lomé Container Terminal has all the necessary infrastructure, handling equipment, and expertise to handle this kind of cargo. For this shipment, all the required resources were mobilised, and a synergy was established in order to achieve the desired result for the customer. As usual, special attention was paid to the whole process; from planning to the operations on the quay to the final delivery of the packages.”
The Pearl of Africa
To date, the Lomé Container Terminal is one of the top container terminals on the African continent. With a storage area of 53 ha, a quay length of 1050 meters, and a dock depth of 16.60 meters, all kinds of ships are welcome. Coupled with this infrastructure is the highly qualified and dedicated staff, meaning that at LCT, there is no wait for ships in the harbour.
In 2021 LCT passed the milestone of one million containers per year, and throughout 2022 so far has a performance level above 32 gross moves per hour (GMPH).
With the latest generation of equipment, LCT is ready for any cargo handling needs. Equipped with nine ship-to-shore (STS) cranes with two more on the way, two mobile cranes, 27 rubber tyred gantry (RTG) cranes and more than 70 trailer trucks, and the terminal has a wide variety of resources to call on. Mobile cranes especially allow agility and precision when handling heavy cargo and ensure an increase in volumes handled and a reduction in ship’s time spent in the harbour.
The combined excellence of the LCT staff and resources available ensure it lives up to the promise of excellence expected by partners and shippers using the facility.
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