Ghana Manganese Company, the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority and COSCO Shipping Lines, on Tuesday, welcomed a bulk carrier at the Port of Takoradi to support higher mineral exports and improve shipping efficiency for Ghana.
The vessel, MV CBS Years, has a deadweight of 300,000 tonnes and berthed on January 27, 2026, marking a step in the company’s plan to raise production and exports to 10 million tonnes by 2026.
The call is expected to lift bulk shipment volumes through Takoradi and strengthen export receipts.
Officials said the operation would also boost port revenues and foreign exchange inflows, while signalling the port’s ability to handle large-scale mineral logistics under local control.
The arrival further placed Takoradi as a key outlet for manganese exports in the sub-region.
Ahead of the call, Ghana Manganese Company sponsored selected GPHA marine operations staff, including pilots, to China for advanced simulation and berthing training tailored to capesize vessels.
The programme mirrored vessel hydraulics, mechanics and navigation to support safe operations.
GPHA also developed Standard Operating Procedures to guide berthing and loading for vessels of this size, with a focus on safety and predictability.
Officials said the measures were critical to reducing operational risk and downtime.
The Deputy Managing Director of Ghana Manganese Company, Sun Yuanwei, said the berthing marked a turning point for mining logistics and port use in Ghana.
“This marked the start of a new phase for our operations and showed what years of planning and cooperation had delivered,” he said.
Operations
The Director of the Port of Takoradi, James Richmond Qayson, said the successful operation reflected investments made under the Port Expansion Programme launched in 2015.
“This confirmed the port’s readiness to handle large vessels and complex cargo movements,” he said.
He said the modern conveyor ship-loading system, commissioned in 2022, had cut loading times, noting that similar vessels previously stayed offshore for up to 21 days for trans-shipment.
“We now load within five days and the work was handled by Ghanaian engineers and technicians,” he said.
The President of the Western Regional House of Chiefs, Nana Kobina Nketsia V, called for sustained investment in rail transport to support bulk cargo flows and regional planning.
“Rail remained the most efficient way to move minerals to the port and it needed consistent attention,” he said.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh