Benonita Bismarck, CEO, GSA
Ghana’s maritime trade outlook for this year looks positive, the Ghana Shippers Authority (GSA) has stated.
The projection is premised on the impressive performance in 2017 and the first half of this year which has witnessed another improvement.
Benonita Bismarck, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the GSA, who spoke to journalists in Accra, said in line with the expected growth of world economic output, and in the wake of the first half performance, Ghana’s cargo throughput for 2018 is expected to post a good growth of not less than 10 percent.
For the first half of this year, cargo throughput witnessed an increase of 14.3 percent.
Shipping lines’ performance
She said a total of 87 shipping lines and charterers participated in transporting the over 11.75 metric tons of Ghana’s seaborne cargo (i.e. import and export) through the Tema and Takoradi ports.
“The high performers in the liner trade were Maersk Line (23.88 percent) and Mediterranean Shipping Company (12.71 percent).
In the break bulk trade, Maersk Line moved the highest volume (24.9 percent), followed by Mediterranean Shipping Company with 21.5 percent.
High performers for the dry bulk trade were I.M.T. (55.3 percent) and H.C. Trading with 18.1 percent. In the liquid bulk trade, BP Oil International Limited lifted the highest volume of 50.6 percent.”
Agents
Fifty-nine shipping agents handled over 11.75 million metric tons of seaborne trade (import and export) through the Tema and Takoradi Ports for the first half.
High performers in the liner trade were Maersk Ghana Limited with 23.7 percent of the volume and MSCA Ghana Limited with 12.6 percent.
The leading shipping agents in the break bulk trade were Maersk Ghana Limited with 25.1 percent and MSCA Ghana Limited with 21.7 percent.
In the dry bulk trade, the high performers were Supermaritime Ghana Limited with 47.2 percent of the share and Hull Blyth Ghana Limited with 18.8 percent. In the liquid bulk trade, Inchcape Shipping Limited handled 56.4 percent of the volume whilst Oil and Marine Agencies (OMA) handled 30.8 percent.
Paperless system success
Ms Bismarck said the paperless system introduced by government at the ports was on course to achieving its desired results.
“As the Shippers’ Authority, we believe the system has brought some relief to shippers and we will continue to educate and sensitise our shippers on the need to operate within the framework of the system and report any challenges encountered in the usage of the system to ensure they are addressed expeditiously.”
By Samuel Boadi