By Joshua Yousouph
Even though it was concessioned about six m months ago, the multi-million Naira floating dock acquired by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) is generating yet another anxiety.
Stakeholders in the maritime industry are raising concerns over the current state of the N50bn modular floating dock acquired by NIMASA. This is even as they express worry about the location and usage of the dock.
The Modular Floating dock, a submersible platform designed for the repair of vessels and to enhance the development of the maritime industry in Nigeria, is said to have been abandoned since it was acquired in 2018.
Shipping Position Daily recalls that in January, the floating dock was concessioned to a company known as J. Marine Logistics Limited to operate, maintain and transfer back after an initial period of 15 years.
The Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) gave a certificate of approval to NIMASA last year for the running of the public/private partnership.
The Director General of ICRC, Michael Ohiani had noted that the concession is expected to generate $65.6 million, (or about N27.2 billion), into the coffers of the Federal Government and to create over 800 direct and indirect jobs.
Prior to the concession, NIMASA had ‘abandoned’ the floating dock at the Naval Dockyard, Victoria Island in Lagos.
This has been the last known location of the floating dock as stakeholders who spoke to our correspondent said they were not aware of the current location.
However, our correspondent who also visited the Naval Dockyard to confirm if the dock was still there was denied access into the premises this is even as all efforts made by Shipping Position Daily to reach the concessionaire; J. Marine Logistics Limited proved abortive, as all their contact lines were unavailable as at press time.
In a chat with our correspondent last week, the Chairman Institute of Chartered Ship Brokers (ICS); Dr Chris Ebare decried the current state of the floating dock, adding that maritime industry players are not comfortable with the fact that nothing worthwhile has come out of the project.
Dr Ebare who queried the concession of the floating dock argued that NIMASA has the capacity and wherewithal to operate the craft, but lacks a maintenance culture.
He informed that the revenue that can be made from the floating dock is more than enough to develop and expand the maritime industry.
Commenting on the current location of the dock, Ebare noted that the location of the dock is currently unknown to stakeholders. He opined that it is not expected to be out of Nigeria’s territorial waters, because the vessels that are supposed to patronize the dock are within the country’s territorial waters.
In his words: “The last time Dr Jamoh the DG of NIMASA granted an interview to the media, he spoke extensively on how far the project has gone and why it is not yet on board and explained that efforts were being made to ensure that it is finally launched considering the number of resources that have been pumped into the project. At the end of the day, we thought by this time the immediate past President will be one of those that will launch it. But with the look of things, it is not so.
“I hope the DG of NIMASA in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Transportation will do everything within their reach to make the dream of Nigeria and maritime players in the country come true by ensuring that the floating dock is unveiled to the whole world”.
Also speaking, the President, National Association of Masters Mariners (NAMM); Captain Tajudeen Alao disclosed that the government and the concessionaires are still following the necessary legal procedures in getting the floating dock utilized and engaged.
Captain Alao noted that the parties involved in the contract are about 90 per cent in the completion stage. However, he could not ascertain the current location of the floating dock but stressed that its effective utilization will be beneficial for many supply vessels on the coast of Nigeria.
He said: “Honestly, we have not got much current information on the NIMASA’s floating dock issue. The Director General of NIMASA has already given a press statement on the recent developments on it.
“The dock is a government property; they are following government and legal procedures to get the floating dock utilised and engaged. They are at 90 % stage as posited to the stakeholders”, Alao informed.
On his part, a Master Mariner and South West Director, of the Merchant Seafarers Association of Nigeria (MESAN), Captain Williams Ogunsakin noted that the acquisition of the floating dock by NIMASA is a good initiative that encourages the Cabotage Act, but it is in the wrong direction.
Ogunsakin lamented that there are currently no serious dry-docking facilities in Nigeria, adding that many Nigerian shipowners go to countries like Ghana, Egypt, Zambia, Senegal, and Namibia among others to repair their vessels at a very high cost.
He stated that the NIMASA dock cannot carry the kind of vessels and ocean-going tankers operating in Nigeria except for small crafts like fishing trawlers and tug boats. He also added that adequate provision should have been made for the location where the dock will operate, even as he stressed the need to engage relevant stakeholders.
“Presently, we don’t know where that floating dock is, but I know it is one of the good things NIMASA wanted to do in the wrong direction. The past and Present DG and management of NIMASA have very laudable ideas, but the ideas are misdirected. They went and bought the floating dock in accordance with the Cabotage laws, so that ships in Nigeria should not be going outside to dry dock.
“The dock cannot carry the kind of vessels we are operating in Nigeria, except for small crafts like fishing trawlers and tug boats. It cannot carry any of the seagoing tankers that we have. That is why it is not functional. Before they went for that kind of dock, they are supposed to have known where they would operate the dock. They should have gone to dredge a place for it. We have a lot of land in Lagos where they can dredge to let it have the kind of depth required, so that when the ship comes, it goes directly to the dock and does not start looking for where to berth. Instead of the floating dock to improve our economy, it has become a draining pipe for our economy.
“The floating Dock is a good initiative in the wrong direction”, he concluded.
All efforts made to get the reaction of NIMASA proved abortive. The Assistant Director, Public Relations of the agency, Mr Edward Osagie promised to send a response after consulting the department involved, but did not as at press time.
