caption: NIMASA Floating Dock
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has assured that its multi-billion Naira floating dock will arrive at the facilities of the Nigerian Ports Authourity (NPA) before the end of July
It added that as part of efforts to reposition the nation’s maritime industry to meet international standard and boost revenue, the floating dock will then begin operations from the NPA facilities after several months of inactivity.
Recall that the Director General of NIMASA Dr. Bashir Jamoh had said during the celebration of his 100 days in office, that the agency had reached an agreement with NPA over the relocation of the N50 billion floating dock to the Continental Shipyard Apapa, Lagos.
The agreement, which Jamoh said will be a public-private partnership (PPP), is expected to generate about 500 jobs in the first year.
Jamoh said the high profile equipment would generate N1 billion monthly by the time it starts operations.
However, giving an update on the delivery of the floating dock, the Deputy Director, Public Relations of NIMASA Mr. Philip Kyanet informed our correspondent that sequel to the meeting which the two chief executives had recently, it was agreed that the floating dock will be moved to the Continental Shipyard before the end of July 2020.
According to him, “at the briefing when the NPA MD visited the DG (of NIMASA), it was agreed that the floating dock will be moved to the continental shipyard before the end of July 2020, so if anything like that has happened, we will let you know” he said.
Recall that a maritime industry advocacy group; the Maritime Industry Advocacy Initiative (MAIN) had recently kicked against the relocation of the floating dock to Niger Delta, stating that the facility is a national asset that should serve the entire populace and not a particular region, sequel to demands of the two Pan-Niger Delta non-government organizations claimed that the modular dry dock was specifically designed for the region and that it had been lying unused in the Lagos waters.
MAIN had argued that It is a fact that Okerenkoko does not meet the criteria of security, economy and required draft, stating that Okerenkoko also provides very low economic value for a dry dock.
“We doubt if any ship-owner will gladly bring his ship to that location for dry docking. They do have alternatives!
“Above all, at the last check, the draft at Okerenkoko or anywhere near it is far too shallow for a 13-metre draft facility such as the NIMASA dry dock”, the group had said.
Shortly after the statement, the NIMASA DG announced that the floating dock would be move to the NPA facilities.
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