SOON CARGO SAILBOATS IN ABIDJAN PORT : AUDIENCE GRANTED TO TOWT GROUP

Activités portuaires Wednesday 05 April 2023

A delegation of TOWT Group represented by Mr Guillaume LEGRAND, CEO of SOGENA Company represented by Mr Nicolas HOUARD, Director General were granted an audience on Monday 20 February 2023 by Colonel COFFI Yao Emmanuel, Harbour Master of Abidjan Port.

The main issue on the agenda was the opening, as from 2024, of the first maritime line between the ports of le Havre and Abidjan using sailboats.

As an operator of large cargo sailboats in an environmentally friendly sea transport, TOWT made a presentation to the Port Authority of its innovative solutions meant for speeding up decarbonization in a global context of environmental preservation and for better traceability in goods transport. The aim was to bring economically viable and industrially efficient solution.

In view of the arrival of the first cargo sailboats at Abidjan Port in 2024, Mr. Guillaume LEGRAND underlined the importance of having the support of the Port Authority in the project which ensures the ecological transition.

He pointed out the challenge of using these decarbonized cargo sailboats suitable for the export of agricultural products such as cocoa, coffee as this transport mode significantly improves quality conservation of the shipped goods, and also reduces considerably water and air pollution.

The Harbour Master of Abidjan Port welcomed this initiative which is in line with the vision of the Port Authority to work for the protection of environment. Colonel COFFI Yao Emmanuel was pleased about the choice of Abidjan Port as the first African Port to receive these cargo sailboats. He expressed the interest of Abidjan Port Authority and affirmed the willingness of the Port Authority to work together with TOWT and SOGENA for the effective implementation of the project.