M/V Adobia sets sail

M/V Adobia, a multi-purpose vessel wholly-owned and run by African Independent Coastal Services Limited (AICS) and financed by uniBank Ghana, has been inaugurated to start operation on the Tema-Abidjan coastline.

The Chief Executive Officer of AICS, Stanley Raja Ahorlu, said Ghana exports and imports many goods but does not control the means of transport, so the vessel will be used to link-up the major ports in West Africa.

He said the vessel will move from Tema to Abidjan and will mostly be involved in picking general containers and cargoes.

“The shipping business is expensive, but collaboration between local companies can make it happen. However, we should not compromise the standards of the industry,” he said.

“We intend to provide as many ships as the West Africa coastline requires and prove that Ghanaians can do what international businesses are doing.”

He said the vessel is first-class in terms of quality and can pick 650 containers, general cargo and bulk cargo.

Mr. Felix Nyarko-Pong, CEO of uniBank Ghana Limited, said: “Adobia stands as a very instrumental medium to support economic growth and expansion within the Ghanaian market”, and urged management of AICS to prioritise maintenance of the vessel in order for it to live up to its potential.

“We envision the successful operation of “Adobia” and hope that, in the near-future, it will serve as a catalyst for acquisition of more vessels to serve Ghana and beyond.

“We at uniBank are indeed proud of the actualisation of this great business, because it is in line with our vision to be the leading and preferred bank offering comprehensive financial solutions to our chosen customers in a professional, responsive and profitable way.”

In addition, he said caring for the growth and development of customers’ businesses is a cardinal point in the company’s business operations.

Mr. Nyarko-Pong said the bank is convinced of the business acumen of AICS and its capability to own and manage such an enterprise, adding that the bank trusts their competence to successfully operate this business -- which is why the bank financed the project.

He assured AICS that the management of uniBank will remain committed to ensuring the steady growth and expansion of AICS within and beyond the country.

“The success or otherwise of this venture in the short-, medium- and long-term will largely depend on the quality of leadership that management and staff of AICS provides to motivate the entire team to deliver to the expectation of all stakeholders.”