Biggest ship ever calls at Ghana’s Takoradi Port — with new handling systems revolutionizing

Shiploading Operations

In early July,Takoradi Port — in the western region of Ghana — received the biggest bulk ship ever to call at the port since it was constructed in 1928.

Bedeschi S.p.a. supplied all the conveyor lines of the terminal, the two shiploaders and one eco-hopper.

The vessel, Baby Hercules, a bauxite carrier, is a Capesize bulker with a length overall of 240m, and a draught of 16m. It is the first vessel with these dimensions.

Thanks to the automation systems installed by Bedeschi at the terminal, the vessel was able to load a record of 106,530 metric tonnes of bauxite in just five days, barring any inclement weather at the port. Before Bedeschi supplied its systems to the dry bulk terminal, it would have taken between 12 and 15 days to complete the loading of the vessels. The new automated equipment has meant that the vessel stayed between seven and ten days fewer at the port, dramatically increasing efficiency and lowering costs.

For Takoradi Port in Ghana, Bedeschi supplied 3km of belt conveyors, two shiploaders and one eco-hopper.

Bedeschi is proud of the results of the machines and to have helped boost the capacity of the terminal.