Tema Port receives container vessels christened Kota Tema

The Tema Port has welcomed one of the largest container vessels of Pacific International Lines (PIL), which has been named after the Tema Port city.

The vessel, Kota Tema, made its maiden call at the Tema Port. Constructed in 2024, it measures 272 meters in length overall, has a gross tonnage of 73,172, and a capacity of 7,000 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs).

Mr. Michael Luguje, the Director-General of the Ghana Ports and Harbour Authority (GPHA), during a brief ceremony to welcome the vessel at the MPS Terminal 3 of the Port of Tema, stated that his organization is committed to providing the necessary infrastructure and support facilities to receive ships and cargo, as well as to handle them as efficiently, quickly, safely, and cost-effectively as possible.

Mr. Luguje mentioned that the Tema Port serves as a hub for West Africa, receiving most containers entering the sub-region from Senegal to Douala in Cameroon, for further distribution by smaller vessels. He added that efforts are underway to make the Tema Port the largest hub in Africa.

He expressed gratitude to PIL for their longstanding loyalty to Ghana and the Port of Tema, noting the need to strengthen this partnership.

He emphasized that it is GPHA's responsibility to create an enabling environment for Ghana's imports and exports at the cargo terminal by providing the infrastructure and support facilities to receive ships and cargoes and handle them as efficiently as possible.

Mr. Mohammed Samara, the Chief Executive Officer of Meridian Ports Services (MPS), stated that his company possesses the infrastructure and equipment to accommodate any size of vessel and any volume of containers.

Mr. Samara praised the GPHA for its continuous investment in marine crafts to accommodate all types of vessels. He noted that the GPHA is consistently investing in port tugs and harbor crafts that assist ships in docking safely and managing the increased traffic within the Tema Port.