The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) plans to use its N50 billion modular floating dock for the dry docking of vessels operating on the country’s seas on Tuesday in an effort to stop the annual N180 billion cash flight from the country.
According to reports, NIMASA took delivery of the N50 billion modular refinery in 2018 with the intention of making sure that ships of all sizes that call at Nigerian ports repair their ships domestically and thereby prevent capital flight caused by dry docking vessels abroad.
Engr. Greg Ogbeifun, a former president of the Ship Owners Association of Nigeria (SOAN), claims that because the nation lacks ship repair yards, Nigeria loses up to N180 billion a year to its neighbors.
However, the agency has started making arrangements to deploy the Modular Floating Dock for commercial operations, according to a news release issued by Osagie Edward, Assistant Director, NIMASA’s Public Relations.
He claims that in order to prepare for its relocation to the planned operational base at the Continental Shipyard in Apapa, Lagos, the agency transferred the Floating Dock to a jetty at the Standard Flour Mills in Apapa.
The massive 50-ton cylindrical spuds that anchor the dock were getting ready to be installed.
Speaking against the backdrop of the movement, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, the director-general of NIMASA, gave stakeholders the assurance that once the dock opens for business, Nigeria will quickly save foreign cash.
We are traveling to our objective at a steady yet leisurely pace. In order to be ready for piling at the Continental Shipyard, where the Floating Dock is expected to start operating, we are lifting out the cylindrical studs today.
Before we can tow the Floating Dock there, these spuds need to be firmly installed. With the opening of our Dock, we guarantee stakeholders that Nigeria would soon save foreign earnings,” Jamoh said.
Prior to this, last year, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) leased certain spaces at the Continental Shipyard to operate the Modular Floating Dock.
The lands comprise, among other things, the Dolphin Jetty, the waterfront of the jetty that adjourns the slipway, an administrative block, a workshop for construction, welding, and mechanical work, and a workshop for civil maintenance.
A Public-Private Partnership (PPP) will oversee the project.