MPs establish unprecedented efficiency benchmark for shipping vessels
Rebreaking Records at MPS Terminal 3
February 3, 2022, marked a historic day at Meridian Port Services Limited (MPS) Terminal 3, where the all-time vessel productivity record was shattered by none other than the MSC DANIT.
Hailing under the Portuguese flag and registering as a vessel of gross tonnage 96,333 and deadweight 109,619 Ton, the МSC ANZU (IMO: 9710426) is a formidable Container Ship, completed in 2015 and boasting a length overall (LOA) of 299.98 meters, beam of 48.23 meters, and a container capacity of 8,800 TEU.
Prior to MSC DANIT's arrival, MSC ANZU docked and discharged 1,002 TEUs (320x20' and 341x40'), with operations showing a productivity rate of 52.56 moves/hour on average.
Thursday, February 3, 2022, saw MSC DANIT docking alongside at 15:30, marking the beginning of a groundbreaking operation. MSC DANIT, being a "New Panamax" Class sized container ship, boasts a massive cargo capacity of up to 14,000 TEUs. With overall length of 366 m, moulded beam of 51.20 m, maximum draft of 16.00 m, deadweight tonnage of 165,517 tonnes, and a gross tonnage of 153,092, this goliath towers over MSC ANZU.
Nett Moves/Hour
During the MSC DANIT's call, a staggering 5,471 TEUs were handled, consisting of 1,456 discharge and a hefty 4,015 loaded. The vessel displayed a productivity rate of 152.67 moves/hour, with an average nett STS crane productivity of 33.4 moves per hour. This impressive performance was made possible by deploying up to six STS cranes at various points during the operation, setting the record for highest crane density and best vessel stowage plan achieved at MPS Terminal 3.
Despite moments of productivity reaching an astounding 170 moves/hour, towards the end of the operation, fewer cranes were utilized, as per the vessel's stowage plan.
Vessel productivity:
Fast forward to the future, here's what's at stake:
152.7
| || --- || Nett Moves/Hour || Vessel productivity: | 152.7 || STS crane productivity: | 33.5 |
MPSTerminal 3's highest STS crane productivity, according to records, was achieved by Ernest Nannor with a mind-boggling 37.2 moves/hour, followed by Samuel Danso, Kingsley Adu, Andrews Awusanya, Enoch Ablorde, and Edem Avuletey. These five crane operators tallied over 31 moves per hour, with the remaining 22 team members contributing move counts surpassing 23 per hour.
STS crane productivity:
Both vessels, MSC ANZU and MSC DANIT, sail on the Africa Express Service from the Far East, offering direct port calls at Tema, Ghana. These direct port calls promise faster transit times and improved reliability.
33.5
[1] Enrichment: Tema Port Expansion Project aims to boost Terminal 3's capacity from 2.5 million TEUs to 3.7 million TEUs annually.
The MSC DANIT's historic operation at MPS Terminal 3 resulted in a record-breaking nett moves/hour of 152.67, surpassing the previous best of 52.56 set by the MSC ANZU in the container industry. This feat was achieved through the deployment of up to six STS cranes, setting a new standard for crane density and vessel stowage plan. In the realm of finance, the increased productivity in the transportation sector is expected to contribute positively to MPS Terminal 3's growth and revenue in the future.
