Deployment Of Jumbo Vessels Will Cut Cargo Shipment Cost At P/Harcourt, Onne Ports –Channel Coy

The Bonny Channel Company (BCC) says the introduction of jumbo vessels at the Port Harcourt and Onne Ports in Rivers, will reduce cost of shipments at the two ports.
The Group Head of Commercials of BCC, Mr Opena Anobili, made the announcement in an interview with reporters in Lagos.
He said that jumbo vessels, expected to service the two ports would sail into the ports with as many as 4,000 containers.
The company executive said that bringing cargoes with jumbo vessels into the two ports was due to the deepening of the depth of the channels to14.23 metres.
Anobili said that the use of bigger vessels to bring goods into the two ports would lower cost of freights and impact positively on other sectors of the economy.
“We were able to deepen the waters to 14. 23 metres from 12.8 metres and it has been of great advantage to the Federal Ocean Terminal (FOT) and the Federal Lighter Terminal at Onne.
“This also includes the Okrika Jetty and the Port Harcourt Port. It is important because it is where you have refined petroleum products.
“Now, with the West African Container Terminal that is working in the FOT, they are expecting jumbo vessels to bring in containers.
“Our trial test with a jumbo vessel succeeded, having created a new turning circle in the Onne axis.
“So, within the next couple of months, we will expect these jumbo vessels to start coming in with up to about 4,000 containers at a go.
“In shipping, the volume determines the freights. So if a vessel is coming with 4,000 containers, the freight will dip. And if freight drops, it will benefit other sectors of the economy.”
Anobili also said that one remarkable thing about channel management was the improvement in the turn-around time of the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) vessels.
He said that before the deepening of the channels, NLNG vessels could only work at high tide to avoid running aground and causing accidents.
“Before now, the NLNG vessels worked, based on the tide. If the tide was ebbing and they were at the port, they could not come out, thereby disrupting other marine transport activities.
“It was a thing of danger if any of the NLNG vessels ran aground with the high combustible cargo it carried.
“But with improved water depths, the vessels now work 24 hours and it has improved the turn-around time without disturbing movement of other vessels,”Anobili said.