The Nigerian Maritime and Safety Administration (NIMASA) said on Tuesday that it has commenced preparations to deploy its multi-million Naira Modular Floating Dock.
The agency disclosed that the Floating Dock has now been moved to a jetty at the Standard Flour Mills in Apapa, in preparation for its final movement to the scheduled operational base at the Continental Shipyard, Apapa.
The heavy 50-ton cylindrical spuds, which are for anchoring the dock, are being prepared for installation.
The Director General of NIMASA; Dr Bashir Jamoh said: “We are moving slowly but steadily to our destination. Today, we are lifting out the cylindrical studs to be prepared for piling at the Continental Shipyard where the Floating Dock is scheduled to commence operations. These spuds have to be firmly installed before we can tow the Floating Dock there. We assure stakeholders that very soon, Nigeria will save foreign earnings with the commencement of operations of our Dock.”
Recall that the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) had leased designated areas at the Continental Shipyard for the operations of the Modular Floating Dock last year.
The areas include; the Dolphin Jetty, waterfront of the jetty adjourning the slipway, an administrative block, a construction, welding and mechanical workshop and a civil maintenance workshop, among others.
The project will be run on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.
