…. first of its kind in Africa
The Federal Government on Friday inaugurated Bollard Pull Tug Boats (vessels) at the Lagos ports acquired by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) in furtherance of its sustained drive provide efficient domestic cargo needs, win back transit cargo from neighbouring countries and also to meet the maritime needs of other land-locked neighbours.
Speaking during the inauguration of the state-of-the-art vessels, which is a three-pronged strategy of people technology, infrastructure and equipment, the NPA Managing Director/CEO, Mr Mohammed Bello-Koko, said that the initiative was part of the fulfillment of the agency’s service charter to provide relevant marine crafts to support port security, patrol, surveillance and deliver excellent marine services, especially with the commencement of operations of Nigeria’s first Deep Seaport, the Lekki Deep Seaport.
The agency’s CEO said that the acquisition of the Bollard Pull Tug Boats was a demonstration of the Federal Government’s commitment to position the NPA for improved trade facilitation globally.
Bello-Koko said: “I am greatly delighted and honored to welcome you to this occasion, which is a demonstration of this administration’s resolve to position the Nigerian Ports Authority to respond squarely to the contemporary demands of trade facilitation.
“Imbued by our corporate aspiration of attaining hub status by more efficiently servicing domestic cargo needs, winning back transit cargo hitherto lost to our maritime neighbours and positioning to cater to the maritime requirements of our landlocked neighbours, we have deployed a three-pronged strategy driven by people technology, infrastructure and equipment such as the state-of-the-art vessels we are gathered here to commission today.
“This occasion is part of the fulfillment of our service charter to provide relevant marine crafts to support port security, patrol, surveillance and most importantly deliver excellent marine services especially with the commencement of operations of Nigeria’s first Deep Seaport, the Lekki Deep Seaport.
“Our determination to continuously enhance our operational efficiencies accounts for the purchase of these new 80 Ton Bollard Pull Tugboats christened M.T MAIKOKO and M.T DA-OPUKURO to complement our existing fleet of tugs and recently commissioned Security Patrol Boats (SPBs) and Pilot Cutters deployed to enhance channel security across all our locations”, he stressed.
The maritime industry expert further disclosed that the neoteric 80 ton tugboats were the first of the 2813 Azimuth Stern Drive (ASD) Model in Africa constructed by the world’s leading shipbuilders (Damen) and they possessed exceptional Seakeeping Behavior, Superb Manoeuvrability of 360° using the Azimuth Thrusters, fire-fighting capability and Outstanding Towing Characteristics which will enhance the maneuvering of large capacity vessels of 300 Metres LOA and above presently calling at our Ports.
He explained that in addition to positively affecting the turnaround time of large vessels, their deployment would enable stakeholders leverage the concomitant benefits of economies of scale, especially cost savings.
Bello-Koko maintained that the deployment of the Lekki Deep Seaport as launch pad for transshipment was being pursued by the NPA and other agencies, adding that the inauguration of the tug boats is an attestation to the NPA management’s doggedness and commitment to the noble cause.
In her remarks while inaugurating the two newly-acquired boats, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Dr. Magdelene Ajani, said the acquisition of the 2813 model of Damen’s ASD neoteric 80 Tons Bollard Pull Tugboats, the first of its kind in Africa, further demonstrated the determination of the Ministry to boost enhance the operational efficiency of Nigerian ports.
She said: “My joy derives from the fact that the acquisition of these equipment, amongst many others that are in the works, signposts Nigeria’s seriousness to optimize the opportunities inherent in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)Agreement to which we are signatory.
“Maximizing the comparative advantages that our maritime assets as a littoral nation confer rests heavily on how much we are able to deepen our efficiencies through the deployment of relevant technology and equipment.
