Challenges Facing Meridian Ports Services (MPS) In The Handling And Delivery Of Containers To Customers On The MPS Terminal, The Case At The Tema Port

Abstract

The study made use of a descriptive cross sectional survey approach. The research approach involves the use of questionnaires to obtain quantitative data. The target population for the research consisted of workforce comprising management, employees , and customers of MPS container terminal. Consequently, six (6) technical/operations managers were randomly selected from a population of eight (8) managers. Also, a sample of seventy (70) respondents was randomly selected from a population of one hundred and eighty (180) operations and technical staff. Likewise from a population of three hundred (300) customers of the MPS container terminal, a sample of eighty (80) was selected. In processing the data, statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) was made use of. The study revealed that the equipments being used at MPS include; Reach stackers,, Rubber-tyred gantry (RTG) Ship-Shore Gantry (STS), Empty Handlers, Computers and LXE Trucks. Also, the challenges facing MPS in the delivery and handling of containers include, clerks who are not properly trained to direct the operator and twist lock not accurately fixed on trucks making landing of containers difficult. There is no maintenance culture which has led to the equipment not properly being maintained. Limited equipment to handle and deliver, power outages and high electricity bill were some of the challenges identified by the study. The study recommended that MPS should develop the maintenance culture of regularly servicing the handling and delivery equipment in order to make them last longer and also new handling and delivery equipment must be acquired to augment the ones already in use so as to serve the customer better and to make workers comfortable to use.