SIFAX Offdocks record 49,835 TEU volumes in 2020

Capt. Ibraheem Olugbade, Executive Director, SIFAX OffDock, on Monday said that the inland container depots owned by SIFAX Group, recorded 49,835 Twenty-four Equivalent Unit (TEU) of cargo capacity in 2020.

Olugbade in a statement in Lagos said that the cargo capacity was in spite of the prevailing traffic congestion around the Lagos ports with its attendant consequences for businesses.

A TEU or Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit is an exact unit used to measure cargo capacity for container ships and container terminals.

He added that this, however, represented a slight drop in performance compared with 2019 when the off docks grossed 50,452 TEUs.

Recall that SIFAX Offdock operations comprise terminals at Trinity, Mid-Maritime, Okota 1 & 2, all based in Lagos.

“Of the total container volumes achieved, SIFAX Offdock Trinity had 13,109 TEUs for containers gated-in and 12,468 TEUs for containers gated-out as against 19,014 gated in and 20,369 gated-out in 2019. SIFAX-Mid Maritime Terminal witnessed an increase in its 2020 TEU volume.

“It recorded 6,062 TEUs and 6,517 TEUs for containers gated in and out respectively as against 2,609 TEUs and 1,727 TEUs recorded in 2019.

“SIFAX Offdock, Okota Terminal 1, recorded 2,195 and 2,147 TEUs for gated in and gated out containers in 2020 as against 3,096 and 3,137 TEUs recorded in 2019.

“SIFAX Offdock- Okota Terminal 2’s 2020 performance shows an increase 3,596 and 3,351 for containers gated in and out against 2019 performance of 364 TEUs gated in and 136 TEUs gated out in 2019,” he said.

Olugbade added that in order to grow the terminals profitability in 2021, various strategies had been put in place by the terminals to consolidate their prime positions.

He said: “In order to mitigate the effect of the road construction on SIFAX Mid-Maritime, we have begun dredging the waterside of the terminal and erecting exit security gate in preparation for berthing of barges at the terminal.

“In addition, the offdocks at Okota, Lagos are also receiving boxes at the terminals through transfer by barges. Parts of the terminal floor have been renovated and strengthened to cope with more volumes.

“There have been several market drives with several shipping lines to take advantage of the new initiative and proximity to the major express road; and to also use as holding bays for their empties in line NPA call-up system regime.

He said that in the interim, the consignments stemmed for the Trinity terminal were transferred to Ijora Container and Okota bonded terminals for a seamless and efficient cargo clearing process.

Olugbade also said that the necessary facilities had been provided at the two terminals to cope with the expected surge in business.