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The Ghana Ports and Harbour Authority (GPHA) has taken delivery of two new mobile harbour cranes to beef up the stock at both the Tema and Takoradi ports to help boost the efficiency in these ports. One of the cranes, which was bought at a cost of US$7million, was sent to the Takoradi port, whiles the other, which was brought to the Tema port was estimated at a cost of US$8million. Addressing a section of the Tema press, Mr. Paul Ansah Asare, Marketing and Public Relations Manager of the Tema Office of the Ghana Ports & Harbours Authority (GPHA), during the discharge of the crane said these cranes are very helpful because they help the port to fill in the gap when it receives vessels that may not be that strong. �Yesterday they were discharging some cargo when one crane collapsed. In a situation like this without this crane the vessel would have had to take back the cargo in that hutch. So this crane is very useful. �This one has a special component, which is the platinum system that makes it faster with several attachments. One grab for example can lift 30 tons of cargo at a go, so just two swings could fill a whole articulated truck. �It also has two spreaders capable of lifting two containers at a go. And it also came with a jumbo sack attachment capable of lifting 25 tons of cargo at a go. That accounts for the difference in the prices of the two cranes�, he explained. According to him, the purchase of the cranes is part of efforts the Authority is making to boost the capacity of the port to handle the increasing volumes and tonnages of incoming cargo; that is pending the execution of the master expansion project itself. Regarding the construction of container, RoRo and cruise terminals as part of the expansion of the Tema port, Mr. Ansah Asare disclosed that at the end of the deadline, 15 companies submitted their bids, saying they are scrutinizing them so they can shortlist and invite the most credible ones among them for serious business. The Tema GPHA Marketing and Public Relations Manager hinted that management of the port has positioned itself to respond to the growing demand of the economy. Explaining further, Mr. Ansah Asare noted that plans are far advanced for the construction of the cruise terminal at the Tema port, saying that debarring any unforeseen changes, in the next four years, the cruise terminal will come alive. He observed that the port is one of the basic attractions, as far as tourism is concerned, receiving about 500 visitors from schools, institutions of higher learning, social organizations, professional institutions and various groups in the sub-region, including even competing ports to the port on daily basis. �That is why we are introducing a cruise terminal here at the Tema port. Interestingly, there are some companies that have expressed interest in starting sub-regional passenger service, especially Accra-Lagos service. �As part of the solution for the difficulties they encounter at the various borders, these cruise terminals will help position us to develop this particular business and I believe that traders who do Accra-Lagos would be very happy when this terminal come into fruition�, he stressed.