KFTL crane operators to help train team at new Nigeria seaport

Two crane operators from Kingston Freeport Terminal Limited (KFTL) have departed for Nigeria to help train the crane team at Lekki Deep Sea Port.

The crane operators, Anthony Davis and Kaneil McKenzie, will spend three months in Lagos, Nigeria, where they will provide support to the ship-to-shore crane operators training programme.

KFTL was established in 2015 as part of the 30-year concession agreement between the Government of Jamaica and CMA CGM.

KFTL support is part of CMA CGM’s plan to finalise the operations of the multipurpose facility in the Lagos Free Zone, which has been operational since last October but which is still partly under construction.

Chief executive officer of KFTL, Captain Jedrzej Mierzewski, said: “This is an excellent opportunity for our team at KFTL to share our knowledge and expertise with other players in the industry. We boast a world-class training regimen and have a great track record for producing some of the world’s best crane operators.”

For his part, Carlos Cabrera, KFTL chief operating officer, said: “The moment the team at Lekki Port asked for support, we said yes. We are very proud that our crane operators will be able to represent KFTL and Brand Jamaica in this particular way.”

Nigeria’s first deep seaport will be equipped with 13 quay cranes for a capacity of 2.5 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) on a 1.2 kilometre-long quay with a depth of 16 metres. The facility will handle vessels with a capacity of up to 15,000 TEUs to rank as one of the largest in West Africa.