Name and Location
Freeport of Monrovia modernisation project, Bushrod Island, Liberia.

Project Description
The project involves the upgrade of the existing Freeport of Monrovia. The port is an artificial harbour protected by two rock breakwaters extending 2 km into the sea, ensuring 750 ha of protected water. There is one turning basin with a depth of about 9,15 m.

The port has four piers and a major wharf. Three of the wharf's four berths are operational, while the fourth is occupied by the Torm Alexandra container ship, which capsized in July 2001.

The upgrade will include the construction of a new 600-m quay wall and berth, the establishment of a pavement for yard-handling procedures and the installation of new equipment to transform the port into a competitive facility capable of handling modern, deep-draught vessels.

Value
The project involves an investment of $120-million over the next 25 years.

The government of Liberia will pay for dredging and infrastructure, connecting the terminal to the port and surrounding community.

Duration
Construction work on the quay wall is expected to begin later this year, and it is expected to last for 36 months.

The entire rehabilitation project is scheduled for completion in 2012.

Client
The government of Liberia.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
APM Terminals (port management and modernisation project).

Latest Developments
APM Terminals, a division of Danish shipping and oil group Maersk, has signed a 25-year concession agreement to run the Port of Monrovia. The company was named the preferred bidder for the port management and modernisation project in March 2009. It will be working closely with the Inter-Ministerial Concession Committee, the Port Sector Reform Programme and the National Ports Authority (NPA) to facilitate the project.

The firm tendered for the rehabilitation of the Port of Monrovia's existing Marginal Wharf, the development of a container and general cargo operations in the terminal and the provision of marine services equipment throughout the port, including tugboats, pilot boats and mooring launches, as well as operational expertise, including state-of-the-art automation of operations.

The concessionaire will also provide adequate ship-to-shore and yard equipment to handle a minimum of 75 000 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEUs) a year for containers, as opposed to the present throughput of around 50 000 TEUs a year. The company is also expected to improve the port facility to hold 750 000 t of general cargo against the present throughput of around 500 000 t.

The Liberian government decided to privatise the port in response to the urgent need to improve the infrastructure within the port, as the current facility was developed before containerised cargo transportation, and requires investment in equipment and technology to bring the facility up to current industry standards.

On Budget and on Time?
Too early to state.

Contact Details for Project Information
APM Terminals, tel +31 70 304 3100.
NPA Operations deputy MD Jeffery George, tel +231 2 760 3003 or cell +231 6 511 260.