Calabar Chamber  Makes Case For Indigenous Ship Owners On Lighterage Operations

The Calabar Chamber of Commerce, Industry , Mines and Agriculture has called on Nigerian ship owners to embrace reputable classification society as part of efforts to compete favourably in lighterage operations .

Deputy President of the Calabar Chambers , Mr David Etim  who disclosed this over the weekend in Lagos, noted that lighterage activities can turn around the fortunes of indigenous players if properly harnessed for liquid cargoes  and other oil products sea transportation, noting that most of the operators in the sub sector engage the services of unknown classification society.

He noted that foreigners may continue the dominance in such operations despite the cabotage act because of the low compliance by the local operators’ on vessel classification.

Etim who doubles as a frontline ship lighterage and building operator, said for Nigeria ship owners to be in the forefront of nomination in lighterage operations, there should be aggressive campaign for them to embrace notable classification society.

He pointed out that:”The problem with Nigeria ship owners is that every ship has what is called classification . Now different classification society has different degree of stringent rules and regulations.

” The reputable ones have very high compliant rules, while the lower class are flexible. Most Nigerian players embrace these lower classification society and it’s affecting them from participating in lighterage operations even in our own waters.”

Etim equally called on indigenous ship owners to step up their games and engage world class reputable classification societies adding that most ship owners in Nigeria render the services of unknown class society which in affect participation in the shipping community.

However, the Deputy President  maintained that Nigeria has the population and market in furtherance to compete favourably for AfCFTA with its potential adding that,  with the  coming onboard of the deep seaport in Lekki will create opportunities within the sub region.

Etim who is the frontline player in the maritime industry also expressed high hopes for Nigeria to benefit from the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement saying , that the population strength can be the game charger.

The Deputy President reiterated that with the huge maritime potential of the country, AfCFTA is a gold mine for Nigeria economy, noting that more attention should be focused on export rather than import.

He stressed the need to collapse importation of foreign goods into the country thus  expand export throughput ; while lamenting that import of foreign cargoes into the country is a clear sign of poverty  that can easily shatter the nation’s economy from development.

According to him, the Calabar port has a very bright outlook for 2023 based on the coming on stream of the Lekki deep sea port   transhipment hub status, adding that eastern port will get opportunities to be functional and viable for cargo distribution.

By Roland Ekama