By Joshua Yousouph
Investigations by Shipping Position Daily have revealed how a growing number of poorly- constructed, unregulated, unregistered and unclassified barges have flooded Nigerian waterways threatening maritime safety and port operations.
This is even as industry stakeholders and experts have urged regulatory agencies to intensify its oversight role by ensuring that all barges meet the minimum safety requirements before being deployed for cargo or other operations.
Shipping Position Daily recalls that recently, a barge loaded with what is suspected to be industrial chemicals sank near the Mile 2- Apapa waters as it attempted to berth at a bonded terminal. Even though the exact cause of the incident remains unclear, reliable sources suggest that a possible shift in the cargo’s positioning during maneuvering may have led to the mishap.
Our correspondent visited several jetties in Lagos last week, including the notorious Mike-2 Jetty, where the barge recently sank, and observed some battered barges—some clearly abandoned and others rumored to be up for sale, all lined-up along the banks in various stages of disrepair.
Specifically at Mile 2 jetty last week, our correspondent sighted no fewer six badly- rusted barges. Some were obviously abandoned with only one or two functional moving some vehicles across the waters.
Apart from the scene at Mile 2; also, some unanchored aging, derelict, and unmonitored barges were sighted at the Liverpool jetty in Apapa as well as at some other jetties around Marina in Lagos.
Shipping Position Daily recalls that, in a recent interaction with the President of the Barge Operators Association of Nigeria (BOAN), Bunmi Olumekun, he revealed that currently, APM Terminals has no berthing space for barges and that Lekki Port is currently not patronizing indigenous barge operators due to the type of barges being used by most indigenous operators.
Olumekun, re-echoed concerns over the dwindling operations of barge services in Lagos, especially around the Lekki Deep Seaport, Apapa and Tin Can Port, due to operational and financial challenges. He disclosed that a growing number of barge operators are either putting-up their barges for sale or relocating their businesses to other parts of the country with better prospects.
Speaking with our correspondent last week, a Master Mariner, Captain Henry Gumwalk expressed concern over the growing number of unregistered and unclassified barges operating on Nigerian waterways, warning that the trend poses serious risks to maritime safety.
Captain Gumwalk said his experience with barges in the country revealed that many are possibly not registered with the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) or any relevant authority. He lamented that some barge owners simply contract welders to construct vessels and put them on the water without meeting necessary standards.
He explained that most of the barges lack classification by recognised classification societies, as well as essential documents such as stability booklets, which are vital for maintaining vessel balance and operational safety. According to him, every craft used on water must possess a valid class certificate, before being put into service.
The mariner further faulted those who charter such barges without conducting proper due diligence to verify their classification and seaworthiness, adding that the use of unregulated vessels is giving Nigeria’s maritime industry a bad name.
“How many of these barges are registered? They should be registered with at least NIMASA. People just go anywhere, get welders, construct a barge and put it in water. As long as it is floating, they are good to go,” Gumwalk stated.
Captain Gumwalk urged NIMASA to intensify its oversight role by ensuring that all barges meet the minimum safety requirements before being deployed for cargo or other operations. “NIMASA should do more and get to the root of all these,” he stressed.
Similarly, a Chartered Ship Broker, Dr. Chris Ebare, NIMASA for alleged regulatory failures that he says have led to recurring unsafe incidents involving barges and other small crafts on the nation’s waterways.
Dr Ebare stressed that when authorities make decisions on assigning regulatory responsibilities, competence and capacity should be key considerations, rather than sentiments.
According to him, confusion over which agency—between NIMASA, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), or a National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) should regulate barges, light boats, and similar vessels has left a gap in enforcement. “Especially in this case, I expected NIMASA to be in charge and take appropriate charge in this matter,” he said.
Ebare pointed out that NIMASA already has a Registration and Monitoring Unit equipped with the necessary facilities, including software, to track and enforce compliance. He noted that the recent incident amounted to a violation that should not have occurred, if the agency had been effectively carrying out its mandate.
The ship broker maintained that avoiding future mishaps would require decisive action, proper regulation, and strict adherence to safety protocols. “With all the facilities that are available to them, we are not expected to have this kind of ugly incident in the maritime domain. It is high time the Nigerian maritime industry grew. NIMASA should be held responsible for this.” he stated.
On his part, a Marine Engineer and Surveyor, Engr. Matthew Alalade raised concern over what he described as persistent regulatory evasion by operators of barges on Nigeria’s waterways, warning that the lack of strict enforcement is allowing unsafe practices to thrive.
Engr. Alalade said many barge operators appear to operate outside the ambit of the law, with little evidence that some of the vessels are even registered. According to him, NIMASA remains the primary authority responsible for enforcing compliance, but the agency must step up its regulatory role to address the growing safety risks.
Alalade stressed the need for all barges to meet classification requirements set by recognised classification societies, noting that it is unclear whether such standards are being adhered to in many cases. He explained that NIMASA should also monitor classification societies to ensure that they enforce the rules effectively, including intervening where vessel conditions pose safety hazards.
“Unless you do something, they (barges) are evading regulations all the time; anything goes. I think they should do more on regulations. I don’t know whether these barges are registered, but I believe NIMASA must be the official body in charge.” Alalade noted.
