Ghana shipyard project gets under way

The US$137 million Takoradi Floating Dock Project, known as Project Shiprite, will establish a commercial-scale ship repair and dry-docking facility at the Port of Takoradi, around 225km west of Accra.

Developed under a 25-year concession agreement with the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, the facility is expected to become the first of its kind in West Africa and a major hub for vessels operating across the Gulf of Guinea.

Once operational, the yard will be capable of servicing vessels up to 200 metres in length, providing mandatory dry docking, repairs and retrofitting services closer to key regional shipping routes.

Ghana’s Minister of State for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye-Ofosu, said the project would deliver wide-ranging benefits for the country’s maritime sector and economy.

“This project will establish a world-class ship repair and dry-docking facility in Takoradi, enabling vessels operating in the region to access critical maintenance services closer to home,” he said.

“Beyond improving operational efficiency, the project is expected to create employment opportunities, strengthen local capacity, reduce vessel downtime, retain foreign exchange within the region, and contribute to lower emissions by reducing long-distance voyages for ship repairs.”

Currently, many vessels operating in the Gulf of Guinea must sail between 10 and 14 days to facilities in Walvis Bay, Namibia or Las Palmas, Spain, for dry-docking and maintenance. Developers say the Takoradi facility will significantly reduce travel distances, fuel consumption and associated emissions.

Stanley R. K. Ahorlu, chief executive of Prime Meridian Docks Ghana, described the development as a ‘transformational initiative in the Gulf of Guinea’.

“Building dry docking facilities to international standards here in Ghana will generate employment as well as reduce journey times, fuel costs, and emissions. It will also keep vital foreign exchange in the region,” he said.

In addition to conventional repair work, the facility is expected to support the maritime industry’s decarbonisation efforts through retrofitting and energy-efficiency upgrades, helping position Ghana as a leading maritime services centre for west Africa.