Africa-Press – Angola. The chairman of the Board of Directors of the Port of Lobito, Celso Rosas, assured the press that the institution he directs has invested more than 580 million kwanzas, around 1.5 million dollars, in equipment to safeguard maritime safety. .
Speaking during the visit of a US Coast Guard delegation to the port company’s facilities on Tuesday, the official said that the investments focused on the purchase of equipment such as X-ray machines, metal detectors, maritime signaling and port, means of communication and others essential for the security system.
Celso Rosas also considered the visit of the North American delegation to be of transcendental importance for the image, good name and prestige of the Port of Lobito.
“The United States Coast Guard delegation carries out an audit visit to be able, ‘in loco’, to verify how our security system works, in light of the SPS code, which establishes international standards and which are in force in all the ports of the world, whose countries are members of the International Maritime Organization (IOM)”, noted the leader of the Port of Lobito.
“Angola is a member of the IOM and, therefore, adopted its conventions and therefore the SPS code is implemented here”, added the PCA of Porto do Lobito.
Regarding the visit of the North American delegation, Celso Rosas recalled that the members had the opportunity to see what is being implemented based on strict access measures, control of the movement of people inside and on the outskirts of the port, as well as the goods that pass through this port enterprise.
“For some time now, in fact, we have given many training actions to our workers, prioritizing and prioritizing the human factor in what should be their good performance. What I can assure you is that we have an open port to world, where ships come and dock safely at sea and in ports,” he said.
The president of the Port of Lobito highlighted the fact that the United States is a power, which increases the interconnection established with that exchange of experiences. “It was important to hear from them who appreciate the work carried out in the context of preparing documents, plans for safety measures, environmental impact, emergency, contingency, as well as seeing how we are carrying out our drills”, he emphasized.
Celso Rosas indicated that the delegation had the opportunity to visualize everything, to be able to advise the perspective of the Board of Directors of Porto do Lobito to improve performance. “Hence our openness to this cooperation”, he reinforced.
For his part, John Robertson, who headed the US Coast Guard delegation, praised the cordiality and hospitality that they received in the Port of Lobito.
Also on Tuesday, the chairman of the Board of Directors of Porto do Lobito received a delegation from Setúbal, Portugal, which was in Benguela to participate in a Conference on Logistics and Transport, as well as the Dutch ambassador to Angola, Tsjerard Hoekstra.
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