The Takoradi Port dredging program that is paving the way for other projects to follow is progressing as planned and will be completed in two months, according to the Director of the Port, Capt. James Owusu Koranteng.
In July 2009, the Ghana Ports and Harbors Authority (GPHA) announced a $450 million project to rehabilitate and upgrade the Takoradi harbor. The project included reclamation and redevelopment of the old log pond into an oil services facility, dredging, paving works in the harbor, the construction of a 500 meter quay wall, construction of cocoa shed outside the harbor premises, construction of an oil berth etc.
State-of-the-art Jan De Nul’s Cutter Suction Dredger (CSD) Nicolo Machiavelli began the works on January 7th and will continue with the dredging until late March or early April 2015. The dredging works will be than followed by the construction of the quay wall which will be completed in 2016.
According to Capt. James Owusu Koranteng, so far 80,000 m³ of soil has been dredged, with the total cost of the expansion project estimated at approx $230 million.
When fully finished, the dredging project will increase the depth of water from current 11 meters to 16 meters enabling the port to handle panamax vessels.
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Dredging Today Staff