Ghana Ports And Harbours

LOCATION
The Port of Tema is located 28 km east of Accra at 5°38’N and 0°01’E.

ANCHORAGE
There is good anchorage between 1.5 km to 4 km ENE to SW off the main harbour entrance in depths of 9 metres to 18 metres with good holding ground. The E area of the anchorage is most suitable without additional swell reflected from the main breakwater.

APPROACH
Harbour entrance is 240 metres wide with a depth of 12.5 metres. A heavy swell may be encountered at 400 to 600 metres from harbour entrance during the monsoon season from April to September which
causes vessels to roll heavily up to 40-80 during the monsoon season. For this reason, deep draught vessels enter only at high tide to obtain sufficient keel clearance.

ARRIVAL
The port requires advance notice of 72 hours prior to estimated time of arrival (ETA) – before 14.30 hours on Monday to Thursday and before 10.00 hours on Friday for weekend working.

BUNKERS
Obtainable by road tankers. All grades of fuel available from Elf, Mobil, Shell and Goil. Refuelling of all marine craft is carried out by Ghana Bunkering Services from the fishing harbour. Heavy bunkers available
from the oil berth.

BUSINESS HOURS
The port is open seven days a week, all year round, except on Christmas Day and Good Friday when ships are handled only in emergency. Overtime rates apply on Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays and during lunch breaks. Main working hours are 07.30-12.30 hours GMT. Two or three shifts can be worked at the request of the vessel.

RADIO

The port maintains a 24 hour watch on VHF Channels 14 and 16 and any other convenient channel. This signal station can reach vessels 140 km away. During harmattan conditions, vessels can hear the signal 400 km from port. The Port of Tema is linked with the Global Maritime Distress
and Safety System (GMDSS).

STORAGE
Large open block paved storage areas are available in the port. There is 19,000 square metres of storage for transit cargo at Berths 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9 and 11. There are also four cocoa sheds with 60,000 tonnes of storage capacity. The port has a total of 53,270 square metres of covered and
92,200 square metres of open storage.

TANKERS
Tankers moored alongside the oil terminal must deploy fire wires and position a floating boom around the vessel. Two fire-fighting pumps are mounted on the jetty. Tankers up to 244 metres in length and 9.7 metres draught can be accommodated at the oil berth.

TIDES
Tidal heights of 1.6 metres at MHWS and 1.3 metres at MLWS and 0.7 metres at MLWN are recorded twice daily.

TOWAGE
Towage is compulsory within the harbour. The port authority operates four tugs: two of 1,866 kW, one of 1,860 kW and one of 1,644 kW. All tugs are fitted with pumps and monitors for fire-fighting.

WEATHER
Light to strong breezes from W and SW throughout the year except from December-February when the NE harmattan dominates, causing poor visibility.. Dangerous winds are tornadoes from E during May-July. There is a swell in the harbour, especially after tornadoes which requires about 0.5 metres under the ship’s keel when lying alongside the wharves.


	THE CLEARANCE PROCEDURE>> The clearance process may look like a very simple procedure to the layman. However, several factors play a part in the cargo clearance process. The shipping lines, destination inspection companies, CEPS, clearing agents, all have respective roles to play. This chain of groups work within a set of procedures and accompanying documentation in order for cargo to be cleared through the port. The shipping lines bring in cargo and release requisite documents to agents i.e. a. invoice b. parking list c. freight receipt. The destination inspection companies authenticate the documents and thereafter issue a final certificate of valuation report (FCVR). Stating the value of the consignment and the duty payable. CEPS undertake valuation of certain category of items and ensure that the correct duty is collected. GPHA facilitates the physical clearance process and ensures collection of rent and handling charges. CURRENT CLEARANCE PROCEDURE - CONTAINERS>> Importer/agent presents delivery order and other relevant documents to the GPHA revenue staff. The authenticity of the delivery order (DO) and other documents are verified and checked against the consignment’s information on the Ghana Community Network (GC Net) system. The importer/agent is then asked to settle the relevant port charges on the consignment i.e. handling charges; rent, if any, unstuffing and re-stuffing charges (if applicable). After these costs are paid a receipt or cash delivery invoice (CDI) is issued. The importer/agent proceeds to the container depot (yard 10) and deposits the DO at the charting office for 24 hours. Once again the DO is verified with information on the container received from the Stevedores. The container is subsequently tracked down and charted. The delivery order is dispatched to the yard where the container is located. House to house (FCL) containers are picked from the stack and consolidated. Containers that will be un-stuffed are transferred to the delivery bay for un-stuffing the next day. The next day the importer/agent reports to the yard to effect delivery. House-to-house containers are loaded directly on the importer’s truck which has already been provided. The other containers positioned at the delivery bay are un-stuffed and the contents examined in the presence of consignee/agent, port and other security personnel by CEPS. A CEPS release is then issued. The goods are subsequently loaded onto trucks. The delivery orders are then handed over to the importer/agent to proceed to the delivery tally sheet (DTS)/ waybill desk. The DTS/waybill is prepared and the relevant copies are handed over to the importer/agent to enable him proceed to the exit gate. Pink copy-importer/agent Green copy - security Blue copy - Ppolice White copy - Shed At the exit gate the GPHA security personnel verifies the DTS against the cargo loaded unto the truck. They also verify the required GPHA charges are paid. The port subsequently completes its role. However CEPS and other security agencies also conduct an examination. If everything is in order the vehicle is released from the port and the clearing process is complete. The same process is used for vehicles and general cargo however in those cases payment for the handling charges are made to SCL Ltd at their receipt point within the GPHA revenue building

INTRODUCTION >>
The port of Tema is the larger albeit younger of the two sea ports in Ghana. It handles 80% of the nation’s import and export cargo. The port has 12 berths besides two others, one dedicated oil berth and the other operated by the Volta Aluminium Company (Valco). The minimum and maximum depths range from 8.0 to 11.5metres respectively.
There are currently five (5) storage sheds within the port and these are located at terminals seven, nine, ten, eleven and twelve respectively. The port also includes a 100,000 dwt dry dock and slipway facility which is operated by the PSC Tema Shipyard Ltd. There is a dedicated container terminal as well as various off dock container terminals and car parks ran by private operators.
Tema is ISPS code compliant. This is facilitated by the following resource persons:

The port facility security officer
Deputy port facility security officer
Port emergency response and support
Medical emergency and support
Port security support

NEW INSTALLATIONS >>
New innovative installations, procedures and activities improved port performance significantly. Various challenges were faced and positive outcomes noted.

CONTAINER TERMINAL

A dedicated container terminal was created on the western breakwater. Quay (2) was extended by 200m.
The port acquired three new ship-to-shore and four rubber tyred gantry cranes for the port. However there is still work- in –progress. The second part of the terminal sited at the former cocoa shed area extends from quay two to the former car park area and includes a dedicated reefer terminal as well as an adjacent railway system for easier carriage.

transit truck park

SAFEBOND CAR PARK

The Safebond Company (SCL), a private shore handling company has also completed the construction of a car park. All vehicles received in the port are transferred to the park for delivery.

A NEW TUG BOAT

Acquisition of the 4750 h.p. tug boat “Sakumo Lagoon” improved the towage of vessels to and from the harbour entrance subsequently minimizing delays due to an inadequate number of tugs.

SECURITY SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS

A closed circuit television (CCTV) system was installed to improve general surveillance within the port and its environs. Pro-active security measures were enhanced through the pre-emptive action against possible threats detected through the system. Standard canopies were also constructed at the central and western gate areas. They included ground level and over height security checkpoints as well as a barrier to prevent the clearance of over height vehicles.

PRIVATE STEVEDORING COMPANIES>>
The introduction of private stevedoring companies was aimed at promoting efficiency
through competition.There are currently nine (9) private stevedoring companies besides the Tema port itself. These are:-

Golden Gate Stevedoring Ltd
Carl Tiederman Stevedoring Company Ltd
Speedline Stevedoring Services Ltd
Advanced Stevedoring company Ltd
Atlantic Port Services Ltd
Dashwood Stevedoring company Ltd
Odart Stevedoring company Ltd
Gemini Maritime Services Ltd
Fountain View Stevedoring company Ltd

It is expected that the increased private sector involvement in the port business would enhance port development, increase competition, improve service delivery and ultimately lead to better customer service and satisfaction.

container terminal 2

IMPROVEMENT IN CUSTOM PROCEDURES - CEPS>>
CEPS streamlined their activities to make clearance procedure less cumbersome for customers. The valuation and classification system at the car park was compressed into one automated system.Initially valuation was done manually using the Nada (1998-2005). This involved the customers’ movement to and from three different points for valuation and assessment of other taxes and charges involved. These activities were performed within an average period of 6 – 24 hours depending on the type of vehicle.
The new system covers all American and European vehicles. It has shortened the clearance process and decreased the valuation time to 2 hours only.

TRANSHIPMENT

The transhipment market which has shown a significant improvement in its performance since 2005. The level rose from 71,083 tonnes in 2004 to 327,648 tonnes in 2006. Hull Blyth, Maersk Line and ISAG shipping lines joined the pre-existing MOL and Messina lines in the transhipment business

The increase in transhipment volumes may be a direct result of the construction of the dedicated container terminal and the use of the ship-to-shore gantry cranes as well as a marked reduction in theft and damage to transhipment cargo.

THE TRANSIT BUSINESS TREND>>
The total volume of transit cargo traffic stands at 887,325 metric tonnes for 2006. There is a huge potential for growth in transit trade through Ghana’s corridor.

To further enhance the efficiency and safety of the business, the port has taken steps to compile a register of all vehicles engaged in the transport of transit cargo from the port.. Information gathered include those on - chassis and license numbers of the vehicle, driver’s name and address and endorsement by the recognized transport unions that the vehicle belongs to.
This information has also been passed on to CEPS who ensure that only registered vehicles are released finally to undertake the transit journey.
In addition to this the haulage companies have been instructed to obtain loading notes from the respective transit country Shippers’ Council prior to entry into the port to carry cargo.

The Tema port is engaged in proactive development projects to meet the increasing needs of all of its customers. The port is highly efficient and is surely your most preferred port.

Please for all enquiries, contact –

The Marketing and Customer service Manager
P. O. Box 488, Tema
Tel: 233 (0)-22 202631-9 ext 3090
E-Mail: atorkornoo@ghanaports.net

Or click here to fill our enquiry form and we'll get back to you within two working days.

For more information on the Port of Tema, please click here for our handbook.