Local pilots engaged by the Nigerian Ports Authourity (NPA) to pilotage of in-coming and out-going ships along the Escravos within the Warri pilotage district have threatened showdown with the organisation over an alleged debt of about US$413,407.88, owed them over a 10 months period.
The pilots who are all engaged under a limited liability company; Escravos Ship Pilots Nigeria Limited claimed that NPA has refused to pay them the money despite repeated calls for the money to be paid.
Local pilots engaged by the Nigerian Ports Authourity (NPA) to pilotage of in-coming and out-going ships along the Escravos within the Warri pilotage district have threatened showdown with the organisation over an alleged debt of about US$413,407.88, owed them over a 10 months period.
The pilots who are all engaged under a limited liability company; Escravos Ship Pilots Nigeria Limited claimed that NPA has refused to pay them the money despite repeated calls for the money to be paid.
Writing under the company, the local pilots, in a letter dated January 23, 2013 and directed to the managing director noted that: "The remuneration covers pilotage services rendered by Escravos Ship Pilot Nigeria Limited on the agreed term of twenty (20%) percent of ship dues collected on each vessel handled by our company, which for over ten months now have not been paid to us despite the monthly reconciliation of records by the coordinating committee.”
The body also accused NPA of breach of agreement saying that, “failure to effect the said payment is unreasonable and unjustifiable breach of the terms of the pilotage agreement between the authourity and our company”.
Slightly falling short of giving a deadline, the pilots gave the managing director, 14 days to resolve the deadlock
Shipping Position Daily confirmed that under the subsisting agreement, NPA is supposed to pay the Escravos Ship Pilots Nigeria Limited 20 per cent of ship dues collected monthly.
In the protest letter which was sighted by our correspondent last week, NPA has raked-in about $2,067,039.51 as ship dues at Delta port where the pilotage company serves.
The letter was signed by one Capt Solomon Prebor, who is director of operations of Escravos Ship Pilots Nigeria Limited.
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