Gulftainer upgrades Comoros Islands facilities

A major problem for this island group is the high cost of imported commodities due, in part, to the high freight rates charged as a result of long port stays previously encountered by ships.

The joint venture - Gulf-Com - has already introduced 24 hour working 7 days a week - at no extra cost to lines or companies, with the aim of making the Port of Moroni more efficient and attractive to potential shippers - thus improving the economy and ensuring that the reduced costs resulting from improved efficiency have a beneficial effect on the lives of all Comoriens.

The latest stage in this process is also to improve the handling and logistics operations in Moroni Port by supplying two 22m x 7m barges capable of carrying 120 tons of cargo, which together with a newly supplied tugboat will dramatically improve the ability of the port to move containers and other cargo from larger ships (which have to use the anchorage) to the quay. Further back-up equipment including terminal tractors and trailers were also included in the shipment.

Gulftainer Director and General Manager Peter Richards commented "We undertook to improve performance at Moroni to remove some of the bottlenecks impeding the port's ability to handle volumes of cargo quickly and efficiently. We have already made a sizeable impact on productivity and the supply of this new equipment is the next step".