Tractors are the spine of the transportation within the port as they manage the transport from debarkation to the various storage areas inside and outside the port.

Outside TEMA port these new RoRo tractors also operate for the container terminal Golden Jubilee.

Beside Port of TEMA there is another Ghanaian port, Port of Takoradi, working with another 10 units MAFI RoRo tractors. Within the next few years this port will be expanded considerably in order to relieve Port of TEMA which is handling more than 1 million TEU annually, partially for Ghana and a huge proportion for the African inlands.

As Head of Shipping until his retirement in 2011, his global team was responsible for Shell’s portfolio of oil tanker, LPG and LNG vessels and for advising on safety and environmental aspects of shipping.  He also served as a member of the Shell Trading Executive Committee and Group Executive Sponsor for shipyard procurement.

He was appointed CMG (Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George) in the 2012 New Year’s Honours list for his services to the safety and security of the international shipping community, recognising his role as President of the UK Chamber of Shipping, Chairmanship of the Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) and contribution to combatting the threat of international piracy.

Jan is a non-executive Director of J & J Denholm Ltd, Nordic Tankers Holding AB, and the UK Chamber of Shipping. A Leicester University graduate and Fellow of the Society of Biology, he has been active in a number of roles, including Chairman of Maritime UK, Co-Chair of the UK Shipping Defence Advisory Committee, Trustee of the Lloyds Register Foundation and a member of the British Airways International Business Advisory Board. He is an Honorary Captain in the Royal Naval Reserve and President of the Shell Pensioners Association.

Commenting upon his appointment, Jan said:  “I am very pleased to be joining such an exciting, innovative and international group, rooted as it is in scientific excellence. I look forward to supporting the continued success of the company and its people.”

Dr Neil Cross, Chairman of BMT Group, says: “I am delighted to welcome Jan to the BMT Board.  His breadth and depth of industry knowledge and experience will be invaluable to the company as we focus on continued growth and development.

The contract was signed in September 2013 and installations will commence in the second quarter of 2014.

Effectively a pilot project, Kalmar’s specialist Crane Upgrades team will handle the complex engineering task which includes provision of the electrical services infrastructure for two RTG container blocks, each with a length of 217m. A full turnkey project, Kalmar will handle the RTG modifications, integration of an automatic drive-in collector unit, operator controls, conductor bars and the steel structure installation. Additionally, two 217m container blocks will be converted to house the electrical infrastructure, including substations required to connect the cranes to main power grid. The objective of the electrification is to reduce the fuel costs and lower the emissions of the RTG fleet.

“We are very pleased that we complied with the requirements of HPUK’s competitive tender process and were able to collaborate with them on this exciting project. Kalmar has all the specialist engineering resources in house to manage the integration of this type of procedure for all crane brands. Our objective is to minimise risk and maximise performance which represents an excellent return on investment for our customers,” said Dave Patterson, Market Area Director UK & Ireland at Kalmar.

Kalmar’s strategic intent is to become a major global crane refurbishment and services provider. In 2013, it completed several projects for customers in different parts of the world.

“This new partnership connects UNO students, faculty and staff with the Port of New Orleans, enabling cutting edge freight research, outreach activities and workforce development,” said John Renne, associate professor and director of the UNO Transportation Institute. “This partnership is a good example of what Governor Jindal is asking of Louisiana universities—to become more engaged with industry to create research and educational opportunities in sectors with strong job growth.”

“This partnership with the University of New Orleans will promote economic development throughout the entire maritime community on the Lower Mississippi River,” said Gary LaGrange, Port President and CEO. “By collaborating with stakeholders and utilising the academic expertise of university leaders, we will enhance our community outreach efforts, strengthen the region’s competitiveness and address future workforce needs through research and education initiatives. We look forward to continuing and growing our long-standing relationship with UNO.”

The UNO Transportation Institute is a partner in two maritime-related University Transportation Centers, established by the US Department of Transportation. The purpose of these centers is to advance US technology and expertise in transportation through research, education and outreach while addressing vital workforce needs for the next generation of transportation leaders.

In order to fulfill its obligation as a member of these University Transportation Centers, the UNO Transportation Institute, in partnership with the Port of New Orleans, will engage in a number of projects including:

– Investigate the best practices of liquefied natural gas bunkering.
– Analyse the maritime industry’s progress on e-Navigation, a concept designed to bring about increased safety and security in commercial shipping through better organization and exchange of data.
– Hold a maritime workforce summit to educate high school and college students about maritime careers and connect employers with those seeking jobs in the maritime industry.
– Develop a web-based K-12 maritime curriculum that will educate students about the history of the Port of New Orleans, its current operations and its international economic impact.
– Work to establish the state’s first chapter of the Women in Transportation Seminar, an international organisation dedicated to building the future of transportation through the global advancement of women.

The Port of New Orleans’ in-kind match of organisational resources includes facility space, personnel time, equipment and software.

The Merritt C Becker University of New Orleans Transportation Institute focuses on the role of transportation in creating a sustainable, livable and resilient future. Faculty and staff associated with the institute are recognised for their expertise in transportation policy, maritime and port planning, evacuation planning, transit and streetcars, bicycle and pedestrian planning, and transit oriented development.