Delmas, the CMA CGM Group subsidiary expert in the African trade, announced they would offer a new call at the West Africa Container Terminal (WACT) in Onne, as part of their feeder service that currently connects Abidjan to Bata and Malabo. Delmas has deployed a dedicated feeder, MV Delmas Anemone, which will operate between Abidjan and WACT on a regular basis.

Strategically located as the closest gateway to the fast growing Eastern Nigerian markets, WACT will benefit from the worldwide service network of Delmas/CMA CGM Group. Several CMA CGM vessels, deployed on services from all continents, have a weekly call at Abidjan, where their volumes are discharged and transshipped via feeder services bound for the western coast of Africa, including the Delmas service linking Abidjan to Onne.

The local container market served by WACT is estimated to be 150,000 TEU of which 80,000 TEU moves through other ports. Improved service delivery and proximity to important markets such as Aba, Nnewi & Onitscha and greater Port Harcourt region have helped WACT increase its market share over the past few years. WACT handled 72,000 TEU in 2008 which was a 34% increase over the previous year. With the Delmas/CMA CGM service, WACT expects to see further improvement in its market share.

Importers in Eastern Nigeria have expressed confidence in WACT Onne to take advantage of significant savings in on-carriage costs to the Eastern Nigerian markets as compared to Lagos. Equally important, WACT operates out of one secure yard ensuring the safety and security of cargo while saving customers' inland container depot transfer costs and time to clear the goods. The new Delmas/CMA CGM service is expected to satisfy the strong demand for more carriers to call at WACT. Brian Fuggle, Managing Director of WACT says, 'We're proud to welcome one of the world's premier carrier groups back to our terminal. We're one of the few terminals in West Africa with spare capacity and importers in the growing market here in Eastern Nigeria have been asking for more liner services. The new Delmas/CMA CGM service will go a long way in supporting the growth of this market'.

WACT is a joint venture, operated by APM Terminals. WACT is located along the Bonny River near Port Harcourt in Rivers State, Nigeria. It is located in the Onne Oil & Gas Free Zone which was established in 1996 to serve the Nigerian oil and gas industry as well as other commercial enterprises. Onne Port is also the largest oil support port in the Southern hemisphere serving the lucrative Nigerian oil industry.

APM Terminals' West African Container Terminal (WACT), began container terminal operations in 2000, offering ocean carriers a quay length of 570 meters and a container-stacking yard of 20 hectares, with another 100 hectares available for expansion. WACT can serve vessels with an LOA of 212 meters and draft of 10 meters.

Berth productivity at WACT averages 22 moves per hour, one of the highest in the West African region. All Ship-to shore crane operations at WACT are performed using ship's gear. WACT operates a fleet of modern container handling equipment supported by skilled technicians that ensure an uptime of 96% for this fleet. WACT also offers reefer plugs, power and monitoring facilities for 100 reefers with option to add 100 reefers at short notice. The facility offers a Customs examination bay for 200 containers a day, expandable based on demand.

The marine conditions at the WACT facility are favorable with a tidal range of 2.5 meters and current strength at 2 knots. The Fairway Buoy (anchorage) for WACT is located 15 miles off the coast line and the total transit from the Fairway Buoy to WACT is 4 hours. Marine operations are handled by Nigerian Ports Authority who is eager to serve the new service into WACT, Onne.

In Nigeria, APM Terminals also operates a container terminal at the port of Apapa in Lagos.