Pressure Mounts As NIMASA DG Set To Move Floating Dock From Naval Dockyard To Continental Shipyard

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety has assured stakeholders that the floating dock modular floating dock is in the process of being deployed.

 

The Director-General of NIMASA, Bashir Jamoh disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday during a visit to the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Hadiza Bala-Usman at the NPA headquarters, Marina, Lagos.

 

This is coming after a group, the Association of Marine Engineers and Surveyors, raised the alarm over the abandonment of the floating dry dock belonging to the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety, saying the N50bn asset had no insurance cover.

 

AMES also disclosed that the floating dry dock was no longer seaworthy at the moment and may likely become a derelict if the Federal Government allowed it to rot away without proper maintenance.

 

The statement titled, ‘Modular floating dock on course, NIMASA, NPA assure’ and released via the agency’s official Twitter handle quoted the DG assuring stakeholders of a commission date for the dry dock.

 

He said, “I am here to affirm that the modular floating dock has come to stay. We have concluded arrangements for its deployment and operation. The date for its commissioning would be announced soon.”

 

Similarly, the NPA MD in the statement stressed the need to promote NIMASA’s local dry dock to the maximum capacity by placing the NPA’s Continental Shipyard at the agency’s disposal as a preferred location.

 

Bala-Usman said NPA would go into an agreement with NIMASA on the handover of the authority’s dockyard, jetty locations, and warehouses within the area to facilitate the installation of the modular floating dock.

 

She said, “We believe the floating dock is an integral part of the maritime sector and we like to commend NIMASA for starting this. NPA will continue to provide the necessary support as it relates to the aspect of our shareholding within the Special Purpose Vehicle being guided by the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission.”

 

She added, “As it is, NPA has confirmed and reiterated that it will support and hand over those facilities within the next few weeks to enable #NIMASA to conclude the movement of the modular floating dock from the Naval Dockyard to the Continental dockyard.”

 

“This is a very welcome development for the sector and we look forward to patronising and using the dockyard facility for our vessels and other vessels of government agencies.”

 

Responding, Bashir said, “You have heard from the MD of NPA, within the next few weeks the Continental Shipyard will be ready to house the floating dock.

 

“The second aspect is the issue of operation; we have obtained the approval of the ICRC and we have been directed to move to the Federal Executive Council.”

 

The DG said the confirmation of certain aspects of the operations will be run concurrently, according to the statement.

 

He explained that while the Federal Executive Council approval is being sought, the issue of a managing partner will be considered and Expression of Interest will be published.

 

By Roland Ekama