The Port of Maputo has added another prize to its growing bouquet of accomplishments by becoming Mozambique’s first port to receive the highest honour from the Organization for Standardization (ISO) for running a quality-management operation.
Awarding of the ISO 9001:2015 is based on five key principles: risk-based thinking, contextual understanding, process-orientated approach, applicability to all organisations, as well as certification and audits.
Its adherence to the principles was verified by certification agency, Bureau Veritas.
Maputo Port Development Company (MPDC) chief executive Osório Lucas told news site Carta de Moçambique: “ISO 9001 certification is not an objective, but rather a commitment to our customers, partners and society in general.
“The objective is, yes, to achieve the next certification, as this is just the beginning of a continuous journey of improvement and innovation.”
It is widely regarded that the ISO certification was made possible by the private company formed to manage the port – Mozambican Ports and Railway Company (Caminhos de Ferro de Moçambique) and Portus Indico, comprising Grindrod, DP World, and local concessionaire partner, Mozambique Gestores.
The port is managed through a 25-year concession awarded to MPDC in 2003, which was extended in 2010 for another 15 years until 2033 to allow the full implementation of the Master Plan of the port.
MPDC has been actively investing in the port to cater for additional volumes and enhance efficiency. Recent investments include a $6.9-million hardstand expansion to increase bulk capacity to 12.4m tons per year and the development of a traffic management park to handle up to 250 trucks outside the port.
Additionally, DP World has set up a dry port near the Komatipoort border to facilitate container movement to and from the quayside in the Port of Maputo.
The port has also been focusing on developing corridors to support investment and has seen significant growth, handling a record volume of 31.2m tons in 2023, a 16% increase over the previous year.
