Massawa, 28 December 2009 (Shabait) – Investment being made to develop and put in place infrastructure facilities so as to ensure safe, speedy and regular marine transport service of international standard is bearing fruitful outcome, sated Mr. Gebremedhin Habte, director general of the department.
He pointed out that study has been finalized for preparing a master plan for a modern port, and that the necessary suitable and extensive plot has been prepared to this end. A docking facility for oil tankers has also been constructed in Hirgigo at a cost of about 450 million Nakfa, and that it would go operational in January 2010, Mr. Gebremedhin added.
He further indicated that following the renovation and expansion tasks undertaken in Massawa port over the past years, the port could now accommodate ships lauded with 1,000 containers.
Noting that the loading and unloading capacity of the port has increased from 850 tones to 1,500 tones on a daily basis, Mr. Gebremedhin explained that the time of stay for ships in the port has now been dramatically reduced, which in turn had positive effect regarding import and export.
He went on to say that the department is working diligently to properly monitor the competence of ships which dock in the Eritrean ports so as to maintain the unpolluted and pure nature of the coastline. In this respect, the director general asserted that no pollution has been witnessed in Eritrean territorial waters as a result of marine transport.
Moreover, he stated that Assab Port is ready to render efficient service as a result of the renovation tasks undertaken and the introduction of managerial system. Mr. Gebremedhin further indicated that fostering close coordination between the Massawa Port Authority and the Free Economic Zone Authority has a major role to play in reinforcing the activities of marine transport.
On top of the infrastructure development endeavors, strengthening institutional capacity and upgrading human resources are equally imperative so as to attain the set goal, he added.
