APA – Cotonou (Benin) – Thanks to 95 billion CFA francs (145 million euros) invested by Benin Terminal since 2013, the Port of Cotonou container terminal has become a regional growth logistics hub for Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso and Nigeria.
Benin Terminal, operator of the Port of Cotonou container terminal and subsidiary of AGL (Africa Global Logistics), remains committed to maintaining the professionalism of its teams through a series of practical training courses.
These are designed to enhance the skills of each employee in order to meet the ever-increasing expectations of ship-owners, importers and exporters. This commitment to developing the skills of all its employees contributes to their professional fulfillment as well as to optimizing the performance of the Port of Cotonou.
In coordination with renowned partners such as the Pan-African Port Training Center (CFPP) in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, the SDMO training center of the industrialist KOHLER in Brest, France, and the Finnish port equipment specialist Konecranes, Benin Terminal offers a series of technical and practical training courses.
The aim is to ensure synergy and operational autonomy in real time at the terminal, thus guaranteeing the sustainability of ship handling operations.
Last year, more than 22,000 hours were devoted to training, either face-to-face at the Port of Cotonou facilities or in the form of thematic webinars. These training programs concern all Benin Terminal entities: the Operations Department, the Technical Department, the Information Systems Department, the Administrative and Financial Department, the Human Resources Department, the QHSE Department, etc., all of which benefit from an average of 120 hours of training per employee, with an annual budget of almost 85,000,000 million CFA francs, in order to strengthen the expertise of employees in the areas of machine operation, safety, maintenance and repair of machines, quality system management, etc.
For example, last July, a training session was organised for 8 technicians to deepen their mastery of lifting equipment maintenance methods. The training was conducted by Mr. Nicolas PRICAK, a service technician specially sent from Konecranes in France.
Last May, three Benin Terminal employees were sent to Brest (France) to improve their skills in maintaining the fleet of generators that supply the power plant of the Cotonou Port Container Terminal. The five-day course, led by experts from KOHLER’s SDMO center, reviewed all technical aspects essential to the operation of the machines.
“In order to guarantee the professionalism of our teams and the quality of the services we offer, Benin Terminal organizes numerous training programs for its employees throughout the year. Providing everyone with the necessary tools and equipment is always accompanied by training. In this way, we promote the long-term autonomy of our employees, the identification of talents, intergenerational synergies and cohesion,” confides Fabrice Ture, Managing Director of Benin Terminal.
Significant investments in equipment have significantly improved the productivity of both the company and the terminal. This has resulted in a marked increase in delivery rates and a significant reduction in cargo and vessel handling times. Well trained and experienced staff in their field of expertise will further enhance Benin Terminal’s ability to provide quality services to its customers while supporting the performance of the Port of Cotonou.
CP/lb/as/APA