The Nigerian Maritime and Safety Administration (NIMASA) has commenced moves for the deployment of the Modular Floating Dock to the operational base as part of its current efforts to enhance port operations in the country.
Already, the agency has moved the Floating Dock to a jetty at the Standard Flour Mills in Apapa preparatory to its movement to the scheduled operational base at the Continental Shipyard, Apapa –Lagos.
According to the management, the heavy 50-ton cylindrical spuds, which are for anchoring the dock, are being prepared for installation.
Confirming the latest efforts of the agency, the Managing Director, 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.” Jamoh added.
It would be recalled that the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) had last year leased designated areas at the Continental Shipyard for the operations of the Modular Floating Dock.
The areas comprised 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.
By its operational structure, the project will be run on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.
