Enhancing crane service through training at Douala International Terminal.

In News, Ports & Logistics by Alisa Evans

A recent development in Paterson Simons’s expanding footprint in West Africa was the stationing of senior engineer, Noel Gottsch in Douala, Cameroon to better support the company’s client base there and in particular Douala International Terminal (DIT). The terminal has a fleet of more than 21 Konecranes Lifttrucks and four Konecranes Rubber Tired Gantry cranes.

On-going training is a corner stone to maintaining a high standard in engineering services.

Paterson Simons also understand that investment in the local knowledge-base is key to successful partnerships. Recently, an in-house inspection training programme was concluded by Noel. DIT’s engineers, Nouny Hee Thomas, Tadjioteu Franklin and Moukam Marcel all excelled in the course.

The engineers were each trained on how to thoroughly inspect the Konecranes SMV 4531 TB5 Reachstacker, as well as the SMV 7/8 ECB90 Konecranes empty handlers.

When servicing a machine it is essential that engineers are also able to thoroughly inspect the entire machine for other issues. This streamlines time and material efficiencies within the workshop structure, and affords senior engineers, such as Noel, an ongoing oversight of the fleet.

Henry Lyne, Chairman of Paterson Simons said of the occasion, “We are proud to support DIT, our long standing customer, in all technical areas and this recent training even further enhances their in- house service capabilities.

BELOW LEFT: Mr. Poul Johansen, COO of DIT, hands the engineers their Training Achievement certificates.

BELOW RIGHT: Noel stands with Nouny, Tadjioteu and Moukam in front of one of the SMV 4531 TB5 reachstackers.