The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has acquired and deployed International Maritime Organisation (IMO)-registered modern marine crafts at the Lekki corridor to enhance the berthing of vessels at the Dangote Refinery and Lekki Deep Seaport.
Christened MT IRAGBIJI and MT BAMA, the 80 tonnes bollard-pull tugboats are expected to support port security, patrol and surveillance to deliver efficient pilotage and towage services to support the growing cargo evacuation of the Lekki maritime corridor.
Speaking at the commissioning yesterday, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, said the deployment of the multi-functional capacity tugboats would enhance the smooth operation of the Lekki corridor, which is seeing growing vessel traffic.
He said investment into acquiring these marine crafts complements the existing fleet of ASD tugboats to enhance port efficiency and strengthen Nigeria's position as a leading maritime country.
Oyetola said the government recognises the critical role that maritime assets and efficient port operations play in accelerating economic growth and would do all that is required to update the existing facilities to deliver on this.
He said acquiring the modern marine crafts reaffirms the government's commitment to maximise the opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement and its determination to optimise the country's competitive edge as a littoral country.
The Managing Director, NPA, Mohammed Bello-Koko, said the Lekki corridor has become a hub for actualising Nigeria's quest for self-sufficiency in energy, agricultural growth and trade transshipment capacity with its hosting of a 650,000 barrels-per-day Dangote refinery, granulated urea fertilizer complex and automated deep seaport, which can berth super post panamax sized ships.
Bello-Koko said data from Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals show that 120 tanker vessels had been handled in six months with a projection of 415 between July to December, whilst Dangote Fertilizers has handled 17 fertilizer vessels with a projection of 41 in the next six months.
Speaking on the tugboats, Bello-Koko said they are cutting edge series of the 2813 ASD model and possess exceptional seakeeping behavior as well as superb Maneuverability of 360 degrees using the Azimuth Thrusters, fire-fighting capability and outstanding towing characteristics.
He said with the features, the vessels would enhance the maneuvering of large capacity vessels of 300 metres LOA and above presently calling at the country's ports.
Bello-Koko said it would also positively affect the turnaround time of large vessels, while their deployment would enable stakeholders to leverage the concomitant benefits of economies of scale, especially cost savings.
He said the acquisition would enable the Ports Authority to attain a regional hub status by efficiently servicing domestic cargo needs, winning back transit cargo hitherto lost to maritime neighbours and positioning to cater to the maritime requirements of landlocked neighbours.
According to him, the acquisition of the marine craft is part of the fulfillment of NPA's deliverables under the Presidential/Ministerial Performance Bond to optimise Nigeria's marine and blue economy by providing relevant marine technology and equipment.
Also speaking, Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi, said Customs has found it comfortable to work with the NPA to develop the export sector, automate processes, decongest the port, and ensure port efficiency.
