Shippers’ Council Begins Staff Deployment To Shipping Companies, Terminal Operators Nationwide

Apparently determined to resolve the lingering issues confronting maritime activities and further build robust relationship between clients and service providers, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) on Monday, said it would commence the deployment of operational staff to all shipping line agencies and terminal operators from next week, in line with its ombudsman roles.

Executive Secretary of the Council , Barrister Hassan Bello disclosed this in Lagos , when he led management team to Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) and CMA CGM respectively, as part of routine exercise to further enhance its regulatory mandates.

According to him, the attachment of operational staff to the shipping companies and port concessionaires facilities would assist the council to regulate and monitor the respective customers and the service providers in ensuring smooth transaction and faster clearance of cargoes from the nation’s seaports.

 

While brainstorming with management of MSC , he observed that some of the shipping companies have under performed in providing the necessary services to the shippers and agents adding that the maritime government agencies have set up a committee aimed at addressing most of the bottlenecks confronting port operations.

Bello called on MSC shipping to embrace barge operations in order to fast track evacuation of boxes from the corridors back to terminal onward to the vessels at berth.

He maintained that reports have shown that MSC performed below 50% while CMA CGM performed above 80% but urged the liners to step up in terms of compliance.

Bello reiterated that”From next week there will be a staff of Nigerian Shippers’ Council posted to each shipping companies and terminals. And that will moderate and monitor the relationship between customers and the service providers.

“Sometimes it is the responsibilities of the government to provide this services to make sure that things are done the right way. But operations at times in Nigeria can be very hostile and that is why we are coming up with this innovation to monitor activities both at the terminal and the shipping companies”

“We have to work with the government to also make it work moreso and that is why we are here on the routine visit”

He also condemned last week attack on the facilities of MSC in Lagos by some freight agents, calling on the practitioners to embrace automation services as part of measures to discourage human contact.

Speaking with journalists shortly after meeting with officials of CMA CGM, Bello explained that the maritime sector in Nigeria is currently under the peak period and management are working round the clock to know the extend of cargo delivery.

The Executive Secretary, noted that”We are going to the shipping companies and the terminals to make sure that the processes are as quick as possible for cargoes to exit the ports on time.

 

Appraising the multinationals performance, he stated that”We know they are challenges in the ports but we should improve on our services. CMA CGM is 80% Compliance in its operations but we still want them to improve to about 90% or 95%.

“We Know that there is high cost of doing business at the Nigerian ports but we want to state that no terminal operator, shipping companies or government institutions have raised any charges except for disruption and distraction by failure of infrastructure because the roads are not just too good at the moment especially Tin Can axis, but government is doing everything possible to address these worries.”

The Executive secretary assured that come 2021, the seaports will commence 24hours operation just like what obtains in the aviation sector.

He urged the shipping companies to also engage barge operations to further evacuate empty boxes along the corridors.

 

Also speaking Managing Director MSC in Nigeria, Mr. Andrew Lyche blamed the government over failed infrastructure in maritime industry.

Lyche lamented that delay of empty containers have affected China trade deal with the carrier due to failed infrastructure in Nigeria ports to enable the line evacuate boxes at the right time

By Roland Ekama