Port Overview 

Tin Can Island Port is the second busiest Port in Nigeria after Apapa Port. The port handles diversified cargoes with each terminal operator specializing in different forms of cargo (Dry and Wet bulk cargoes, Box-Containerized cargoes, RORO services). The port handles vessels ranging from 100m – 260m. It is well-equipped and up to date with modern equipment for clearing cargoes. 

It provides water supply and bunkering and 24 hours pilotage service. 

Private terminal operators operate all terminals and average berth occupancy rate is 83% as at 2018. 

The facilities can handle ships of about 30,000 tonnes. 

Tin Can Port is well equipped with modern cargo handling equipment and personnel support facilities. It has intermodal connection – water and road, however road transport is by far the dominant method. This results in bottlenecks caused by traffic gridlock due to the large numbers of trucks entering and exiting the port facilities and parked on access roads waiting call up. 

Military and paramilitary checkpoints are present in front of the ports and environs.

Port website: http://nigerianports.gov.ng/tincan/ 

• Josepdam Terminal: http://www.jps.ng/ 
• Ports & Cargo Terminal: http://sifaxgroup.com/company/ports-and-cargo/ 
• Five Star Terminal: http://www.fivestarlogisticsltd.com/ 
• Ports and Terminal Multiservice Ltd: http://www.ptml-nigeria.com/index.html 

Key port information may also be found at: https://www.maritime-database.com/

Port Picture 

Description and Contacts of Key Companies 

Under the NPA concession scheme the following operators are responsible for the management, maintenance and operations of one each of the 5 terminals.  

Terminal services offered are bulk, containers, multipurpose and Ro-ro  

The terminal operators are:

• Josepdam Port Services,  
• TICT Container Ltd,  
• Ports & Cargo Handling Services,   
• Five Star Logistics,  
• Port & Terminal Multiservice Ltd  

For more information on port contacts, please see the following link: 4.4 Nigeria Port and Waterways Company Contact List

Port Performance 

Tin Can Island has 5 terminals with varying areas of specialty.  

• Terminal A is predominantly a breakbulk terminal,  
• Terminal B a core container terminal,  
• Terminal C, D & E are conventional terminals (containerized, break bulk & RORO). 

The draft of the Tin Can channel is 15 metres while draft alongside the terminals range 12.5 - 13 metres and may be unsuitable for ocean going vessels requiring more drafts.  

Terminal berths are fully optimized however port is congested due to slower than optimum turnaround times. Major bottleneck also occurs as a result of the truck congestion to and from the port complexes. This is now being addressed using holding bays and progress/impact is being monitored. Average waiting time at Tin Can is 2.5 days.  

Cumulative cargo handling capacity of Tin Can (incl. container volume) in 2017 was 15,520,925 MT.   

Discharge Rates and Terminal Handling Charges 

For information on port rates and charges, please see the following links to the websites of the terminal management companies:  

Josepdam Port services: https://www.jps.ng/

Ports & Cargo: http://sifaxgroup.com/companies/ports-and-cargo-handling-services-limited/

PTML: https://billing.grimaldi-nigeria.com/

TICT: https://www.tict-ng.com/

Five Star Logistic: http://www.fivestarlogisticsltd.com/ 

Berthing Specifications 

 
The total LOA for all terminals in Tin Can is 2,980m and with an average draft of 12.5 meter. 

General Cargo Handling Berths 

Port Handling Equipment 

The respective terminals are all concessional leases by the government to private businesses who now operate and manage the port facilities and in turn pay royalties to the government for the period of concession. 

Container Facilities 

Customs Guidance 

The Nigerian customs has functions which includes but is not limited to the following: Collection of revenue (Import /Excise Duties & other Taxes /Levies) and accounting for same; anti-smuggling activities; security functions; generating statistics for planning and Budgetary purposes; monitoring Foreign Exchange utilisation, etc; engaging in Research, Planning and Enforcement of Fiscal Policies of Government; manifest processing; licensing and registration of Customs Agents; registration and designation of collecting banks; and working in collaboration with other government agencies in all approved ports and border station. Customs offices are located within and outside the port complex.  

There are 3 units; inspection, clearing and gate control. 

Hours are weekdays between 1000 to 1600 for clearing and 1000-2000 hours for release. Clearing and release officers do not operate weekends or public holidays and may be more difficult to engage on Fridays. Customs Gate Exit officers are on duty 24/7 

https://www.customs.gov.ng  

For more information on customs in Nigeria, please see the following link: 1.3 Nigeria Customs Information

Terminal Information 

Multipurpose terminal 

There are multiple multipurpose terminals available they have all necessary facilities (handling equipment, space, storage etc) available. 

Terminal D & E are multipurpose terminals which caters to both containerized and general cargo vessels.  

Terminal D has 1 dedicated berth to RORO vessels with terminal capacity to hold 5000 vehicles at a time. Warehouse facility available is 6,300 m². 

Terminal E has 2 berths available for RORO or container vessels. Vehicle holding area of terminal is 230,000 m² and this is including holding facility outside the port complex but is fed using barges. Warehouse facility available is 3,500 m². 

Grain and bulk handling 

Only the Josepdam terminal (Terminal A) is fitted with suckers for handling grain and bulk shipment. These suckers take up grains from vessels alongside and into Silos. The storage capacity of the silos is 28,000 MT of grain. Suckers are owned but owned by a private business using same for its products/vessels. These suckers are available for lease if required.  

The terminal handles wheat, maize and malt and can take delivery of about 4000 MT of grain daily. The facilities can handle ships of about 30,000 tonnes. There is also a grain bagging facility on-site which is transported by Fleetwood Transportation. 

Main storage terminal 

There is sufficient current warehouse space for food stores, bagged and general cargo however not all facilities are totally secure. This should be checked with clearing agents.  

Terminal A, D & E all have 1 warehouse facilities each within the terminal. However only Terminal A allows cargo storage in the open stack area. 

Stevedoring 

Stevedoring services are the sole responsibility of the terminal operators. In addition to in-house stevedores, there are several third-party service providers registered with each terminal and the terminal operators nominate stevedoring companies to handle respective vessels. Stevedoring services are adequate and skilled. 

Hinterland Information 

More than 90% of all import shipments are moved out from the port by road. Goods or containers are loaded on respective trucks for delivery to destination. Truck ownership here is a combination of terminal and third-party vendors. Only a small percentage of cargo is initially moved using barges which haul these shipments to another location within the port city from where they are also eventually loaded onto waiting trucks. 

Port Security 

All terminal facilities here currently operate on ISPS level 1. There are strict access control mechanisms put in place by each terminal to prevent the entry of un-authorized personnel into the terminal. All authorized persons must conform to international safety standards