The Port of Nacala has achieved a new record in container handling, highlighting the success of the modernisation works completed at the end of 2023. These improvements have significantly increased the port’s handling capacity, from 100,000 to 252,000 tonnes of containerised cargo – an increase of more than 150%.
The record was set during the operation of the AS PAOLA vessel from the CMA CGM line, which arrived at the Port of Nacala on 10 September 2024 and docked the following day at 5:53 pm. The 207-metre-long vessel was in operation until 15 September 2024 at 8:20 pm, handling a total of 2,569 movements, equivalent to 2,767 TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units, the standard measurement for containers).
The operation involved the use of two quay gantry cranes and ten terminal tractors. Gross productivity was recorded at 19.6 movements per hour/ship, with the most productive shift averaging 24.5 movements per hour/crane. This illustrates the significant advances brought about by the port’s modernisation.
This milestone surpasses the previous record set in December 2023, shortly after the port’s reopening, when the MSC GIOVANNA VII, an MSC liner, handled 2,271 containers, equivalent to 2,711 TEUs. At that time, the operation took 3.9 days, with productivity reaching 24 movements per hour/crane. The ship mainly transported construction materials, steel, rice, tyres, and household appliances for import, and beans, graphite, semi-precious stones, and cashew nuts for export.
Before modernisation, the Port of Nacala had a maximum productivity of 6.3 movements per hour/crane, with an average vessel stay of five days. Thanks to the improvements, the port has seen a significant leap in efficiency, boosting its competitiveness at both regional and international levels.
