Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf visited the Freeport of Monrovia concession zone, touring the jetty and the refurbished Operations/Marine building as well as the nearly completed new training center. The port has been in operation under the management of APM Terminals since February 1st with investment in and improvement of the facility now well underway.
“I am pleased with the transformation that the Port is going through. It looks so much better than it did a year ago ” stated President Sirleaf, who also expressed her satisfaction with the new opportunities for employment and training of Liberian staff the port’s renovation and expansion represents.
Among the facility’s improvements viewed by President Sirleaf were the newly installed state-of-the-art Navis N4 Container Tracking system, a 24-hour dedicated power supply to protect refrigerated cargo, new lighting, the refurbishment of the government-owned One-Stop-Shop and the demolished hazardous warehouse buildings that have left room for more modern cargo storage area. The tour also included an assessment of the progress on the reconstruction of the existing wharf, which will be completed by August 2013.
“ APM Terminals has worked quickly to begin development of the Freeport of Monrovia to international standards of a modern, efficient world-class facility ” said APM Terminals Monrovia Managing Director Brian William Fuggle.
A new APM Terminals training center which is scheduled to be completed by the end of this month will prepare port employees working in port operations and will provide IT training.
“ APM Terminals regards education as a fundamental building block for a growing nation and an important part of our partnership with the people of Monrovia and the country of Liberia” noted Mr. Fuggle.
The 25-year concession agreement for the privatization of the port was concluded in 2010 and calls for the investment of $120 million USD in the facility over the course of the contract term. The Port of Monrovia is the first 100%-owned facility in Africa for APM Terminals.
About APM Terminals
– providing the port and inland infrastructure to drive global commerce
APM Terminals is taking a leading role in addressing the critical issues facing the transportation industry. With customers and business partners, the company has designed the world’s most comprehensive port and inland network to meet the shipping community’s needs today, tomorrow and in the future. With more than 60 ports and 132 inland facilities in 63 countries – the goal is to offer the market more solutions than ever before to help companies and countries achieve their ambitions.
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Source: apmterminals, July 26, 2011;