Transport Minister Rules On Port Congestion

•    Orders Terminal Operators To Position Containers Within 36 Hours

In a move to probably starve-off rinsing agitation among freight forwarders over lapses in port operations and port congestion, the Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar last weekend ruled that henceforth all terminal operators in Lagos ports must position containers for examination within 36 hours of the booking by the consignees of their freight forwarder.
Umar stated this in Apapa Lagos last Friday at the end of a weeklong meeting of the ministerial committee which he  set up to address the challenges of port congestion at the Tin Can Island Container Terminal and the APM Terminals, both in Lagos.

The Minister also stated that once a container has been booked for examination, any of the parties to the examination who is found responsible for delay in the clearance process would henceforth bear the cost of rent and demurrage.

Workers Of Boat Building Company; GMP Protest Non-Salary Payment In Port Harcourt.

•    Indicts IBB, Akilu
Workers of a  prominent  boat building company in Port Harcourt;  General Metal Product (GMP)  have protested against  alleged non-payment of 19 months’ salary owed them by the company, even as they  indicted former military President General Ibrahim Babangida, and General Halilu Akilu (Rtd), who they claimed are the owners of the company.
Even though the protest was peaceful, there was heavy presence of the police, even as the protesting workers chanted labour solidarity songs and anti-IBB, Akilu songs, demanding for payment of outstanding payments owed them.
The protesting workers under the aegis of Steel and Engineering Worker’s Union of Nigeria (SEWUN) Rivers State Chapter barricaded the entrance of the company situated at plot 76 Ordinance Road, Trans Amadi, in Port Harcourt.

JTF Arrests 29 Oil Thieves, Destroys 127 Illegal Refineries

The Joint Military Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta has nabbed 29 oil thieves and destroyed 127 illegal oil refineries in various locations in the area. The Media Coordinator of the JTF, Lt.-Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, who made the disclosure in a statement on Sunday in Yenagoa, said that the anti-oil theft operations were carried out between Sept. 16 and Sept. 28.
``Between 16<sup>th</sup> and 28<sup>th</sup> of Sept., we carried out multiple anti-oil-theft operations in which a total of 29 suspects were arrested for oil theft related offences.
``Anti-oil theft troops of the Joint Task Force `Operation Pulo Shield’ also crushed 127 illegal crude oil distillation sites in the Niger Delta.’’
The JTF spokesman explained that troops of the 19 and 3 Battalions of the JTF, covering Edo and Delta also scuttled 24 illegal oil distillation camps and 73 wooden boats.
``31 of the 73 boats were intercepted at an illegal crude oil loading point close to an abandoned oil well-head in Okpoghare in Warri North.’’
He said that another 27 arrested boats were intercepted in Egara Creek in the Warri South Local Government Area of Delta.
Nwachukwu said that the operation also swept through Ajide in Lagos; Makara, Egwu Aghara Waterside in Warri North; West, Warri South West and Ethiope West Local Government Areas of Delta.

Group Urges F.G To Set Up Ministry Of Maritime Affairs

A call has gone to the Federal Government to create Ministry of Maritime Affairs that will  address remote and immediate problems affecting  ports operations.
Making the fresh appeal last week, a maritime activism group; the Save Nigeria Freight Forwarders Importers Exporters Coalition charged the President and the National Assembly to look into the possibility of creating a distinct ministry for the maritime sector.
The group also stressed the need for stakeholders to rally support round the Senior Special Adviser on Maritime to the President Mr. Leke Oyewole as regards issues concerning the concessionaires.
In a chat with Shipping Position Daily in Lagos last week, National Coordinator of the (SNFFIEC) ,Chief Patrick Osita Chukwu explained that the maritime sector generate huge revenue for the federal government and as such the industry should not be handled with kids cloves.

1.8m Commuters Now Travel By Water Monthly, Says LASWA Boss

The Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) on Friday said that an average of 1.8 million passengers now travel by water monthly around the state, up from the 1.5 million recorded as at June.
The Managing Director of LASWA, Mr Adeyinka Marinho, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the increase in patronage was because more people were getting aware of the boat operators and found them as a way to avoid the heavy traffic on Lagos roads.
 “LASWA has been working hard with a lot of its operators; we have increased awareness on the waterways and we have more operators and vessels,’’ he said.
According to him, 117 vessels are being operated by 47 operators on the waterways, and more are being expected.
“We have now reached a stage where we have been able to move about 1.8 million people per month, and if you look at our figures, they are still rising,” Marinho said.

BOAT MISHAP ON RIVER NIGER

First, may I express my heartfelt condolence to the families of the souls that were lost last weekend on Nigeria's River Niger.

May I  in the same manner blame the National Inland Waterways Authourity (NIWA) for the mishap.

The National Inland Waterways Authority was established by Decree No. 13 of 1997 with a clear mandate to manage ( and by implication, ensure safety on) Nigeria's vast inland waterway resources.

Crown Princess of Denmark Throwing the symbolic Champagne to offiially name Maersk Line 2nd Tripple E ship today in Copenhagen

 

Crown Princess of Denmark Throwing the symbolic Champagne to offiially name Maersk Line 2nd Tripple E ship today in Copenhagen

Second Triple-E Vessel Majestic Maersk Named in Copenhagen

Crown Princess Mary of Denmark names the second Triple-E vessel Majestic Maersk amid a sea of fans and spectators.
It’s a modern fairy tale that both Danes and Aussies are quite proud of retelling: The unassuming Mary Donaldson, born in Hobart to immigrant parents, who met her prince in a pub in Sydney. Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark, was in Australia for the Olympic Games, and returned with a prize more lasting than gold. They were married in 2004, and Mary has truly captured the hearts of her adopted country.
While the first meeting of Frederik and Mary was discreet, there is nothing discreet about the Majestic Maersk, which she named officially yesterday; incidentally, ten years and a day after the announcement of their ensuing engagement. The similarities, on the other hand, are obvious: both are symbols of globalisation, connecting the furthest corners of the globe and reinventing old traditions for the 21st century.
The Majestic Maersk is the second in Maersk Line’s fleet of 20 Triple-E vessels, and it has made a unique visit to the Danish capital this week. Copenhagen is not a major container port, and in regular service the vessel will instead serve nearby Aarhus and Gothenburg.

PIRACY: Nigeria Is On Top Of The Situation - DG NIMASA

The Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Ziakede  Akpobolokemi has assured that Nigeria is winning the war against maritime piracy and sea robbery.
Akpobolokemi, who said these on Channels Television’s yesterday also stressed the agency’s drive to ensure that piracy is totally eradicated from the nation’s waterways to provide a safe and secure environment for local international maritime trade.
According to him before now, there was no awareness that sea robberies take place, he added that  “virtually any case of hijack is reported now because of the mechanism that we have put in place” insisting that “there are so many instances when we go after the pirates or sea robbers, got them down in collaboration with other security agencies”.

Russia Demands Release Of 7 Crewmen Detained For Alleged Arms-Smuggling

Russia has demanded the release of seven its crewmen, detained in Nigeria since October 2012 for allegedly carrying arms and ammunition on board MV Myre Seadiver.

This is contained in a statement issued yesterday by the Russian Embassy in Abuja.
The statement said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov made the demand during a meeting with Nigeria’s acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prof. Viola Onwuliri.
It said the two ministers met on the sidelines of the ongoing 68th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.
``The discussion was focused on the topical issues of bilateral relations in political, commercial, economic and other spheres.

Navy Arrests 6 Suspected Oil Thieves In Port Harcourt

The Commander of the NNS Pathfinder, Commodore Duja Effedu, yesterday said the command arrested a suspected six-man oil bunkering syndicate behind the various pipeline ruptures in Rivers state.
Effedua, who made this know, when he presented the suspects to newsmen, said they were arrested during a routine patrol of the Nkpodiagha Creek, Aker Base in Port Harcourt.
He said that items recovered from the suspects include a 33,000-litre capacity tanker with registration number Lagos GGE 934 XS suspected to have been used in transporting crude oil.

TO THE NIMASA DIRECTOR GENERAL: You guys havent done so well to make Nigerian waters safe

Watching the DG of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety  Agency (NIMASA) , Mr Patrick Akpobolokemi on TV yesterday as he tried to defend his agency for fighting piracy, created an impression in me. I saw in him, a man who even though hasn't done well enough,  has to defend execution of his mandate.

Even though, Patrick didn't create piracy and sea robbery, but, by virtue of  his position as the DG of NIMASA, the lot has fallen on him to ensure that Nigerian waters are safe. But are they really safe? My humble answer is  No!

The truth is that majority of the attacks on fishing trawlers are  not reported, while most of the attacks on tankers and oil platforms in the Niger Delta are never brought to the knowledge of the NIMASA-owned Maritime Rescue Coordination Centres.

When piracy and sea robbery are considered along with the new responsibility of NIMASA as the Designated Authourity for the ISPS Code implementation, then one can  begin to understand that there is need for a lot more seriousness and doggedness in the execution of the mandate of NIMASA as the Nigerian flag and port state control agency.

On World Maritime Day 2013: IMO Scribe Says Maritime Transport Central To Sustainable Development

The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) today marked the 36th celebration of World Maritime Day. This year’s theme is: "Sustainable Development: IMO's contribution beyond Rio+20".

In his World Maritime Day message, IMO Secretary-General Koji Sekimizu said that maritime transport was central to sustainable development, as the world's only really reliable, global, cost-effective and energy-efficient mass transportation method for energy, materials, foods and industrial products.

 “The maritime transportation system itself must, therefore, ensure that its development is also sustainable,” Mr Sekimizu said, adding that this blanket term included not just the operation of ships, but all the activities that are vital to support shipping, such as the operation of maritime traffic management systems and global communication systems, ports and multi-modal connections are all components of this multi-faceted sector.

NIWA To Concession Onitsha Port, Others

The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) says it has engaged consultants that will concession the Onitsha, Lokoja, Baro and Uguta River ports.
The Managing Director of the authority, Hajia Inna Ciroma, told newsmen in Lokoja on yesterday that the plan was part of efforts to boost water transportation.
Ciroma said that while work had been completed on Onitsha port, contractors handling Lokoja, Uguta and Baro river ports had been instructed to complete theirs by 2014.
According to her, the concession of the ports to private operators would enable Nigerians derive maximum benefits from the dredging of lower part of River Niger.

Master Mariners Decry High Level Of Admission At MAN, Oron

The Nigerian Association of Master Mariners (NAMM) has frowned at what it called the high number of intakes of cadets into the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron in Akwa Ibom state.
Warning that the high rate of admission is against international best practice, the association also warned that the academy must be careful about its admission policy, adding that at the end of the day the country will end training nobody.
Speaking at  the Annual General Meeting of the association last weekend in Lagos, the newly-elected president of the NAMM; Captain Ade Olopoenia assured that the group will partner with the the academy with a view to finding a lasting solution to the problem of admission.
Olopoenia explained that the number of intake is too much for the lecturers to do a good job at training these cadets.
“We will engage the management of the institution and make them see the need to reduce the number of their intakes.

Ministerial Committee Deadlocked On Final Resolutions On Port Congestion • Committee Members In Near Fisticuffs

Indications emerged yesterday that the ministerial committee that was set up to address challenges of cargo clearance at the port may have been divided over what the final resolutions should be.

Insider sources confirmed to Shipping Position Daily yesterday that the committee's meeting which held yesterday ended up in chaos due to alleged insincerity on the part of some of the stakeholders.

Our source who pleaded anonymity confirmed that the hot arguments which characterized the meeting almost led to stakeholders exchanging blows.

Our source noted that part of the terms of reference given to the committee is that it should “come up with a blue print for a lasting solution to the lingering problem of port congestion".

He however said that unless the stakeholders come to the table with sincerity of purpose, the port congestion may continue even as the cargo throughput is projected to increase towards the end of the year.

"There is so much insincerity on the part of the operators, we almost exchanged blows at the meeting today, and unless something is done, the congestion will continue because the committee may end up a tea party just like the ones we had before it" he said.

Our correspondent however gathered that the committee will end its seating today (Thursday) and that it is expected to draft its resolution and submit same  to the minister of transport from where it will be forwarded to the President for accent and thereafter becomes a working document.

Some of the terms of reference of the committee which was obtained by our correspondent include; to verify issues militating against speedy examination and scanning of containers, to identify the factors responsible for the cause of delay in the clearance of cargoes in the port.

Others are; to come up with modalities for stemming of vessels to off-dock terminals with a view to reducing terminal congestion, to harmonize off dock terminal charges with a view to reducing the cost of delivering a container.

CONGESTION: Nigeria’s Transport Minister Orders Transfer Of Containers To Off-dock Terminals

Sequel to his unscheduled visit to Lagos ports last weekend, the Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar has directed that containers that cannot be handled by any terminal operator should be transferred to off-dock terminals in order to reduce the present congestion at the port.

The Minister has equally directed that the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) should not stem vessels to any terminal that is having a pile-up of containers within its facility.

Umar had set up a committee to look at the issue of congestion at the Tin Can Island Container Terminal (TICT) as well as the physical examination site at APM Terminals which has generated a lot of complaints from port operators.

NMARITIME SAFETY: NIMASA, Navy, Air Force Alliances And The Alternatives

Available local and international statistics are scary enough to underscore the economic and social dangers that are faced by victims of piracy or sea robbery.
The figures are indeed scary, more so now that the menace is no longer targeted at fishing  trawlers, but on ships laden with  refined and crude oil as well as on dry cargo ships.

The International Maritime Bureau’s recent report on Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships, Nigeria and Indonesia accounted for 50 percent of piratical attacks in the first quarter of this year, even though, piracy incidents worldwide have been dropping sharply.

Nigeria is now ranked next to lawless Somalia in piracy. She holds an unenviable record of being a giant in piracy activities in the Gulf of Guinea.
A lot has been said about the various options that we have as a nation. These option (at a time) ranged from the NIMASA/Navy alliance, the Coast Guard option and the controversial Maritime Security Agency (MASECA) option. There is also the laughable maritime domain contract between NIMASA and a private firm; Global West Vessel Specialist.
I recall very clearly that the NIMASA/ Navy Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) gave birth to the Maritime Guard Command which is domiciled in NIMASA. It is this command that was largely responsible for the increasing rate of arrests of sea robbers and pirates in the past.
Without boring anyone with statistics that are already in public domain, the current rating and the alarm that was raised by the International Maritime Bureau about piracy in the Gulf of Guinea (where Nigeria is the biggest player) is enough reason to reappraise our approach.
It is against these shocking realities and the monumental exposures that I want to commend the collaboration between NIMASA and the Nigerian Navy.

Yes, the alliance is producing results, but it is not the most acceptable way of tackling the menace. It is a model that can not be cited outside of Nigerian shores.
The same applies to the NIMASA/ Global West marriage which involves the engagement of the later to supply platforms for anti-piracy operations. It is also a Nigerian creation that is not tenable in the comity of nations.

There is this reinvention of the moribund NIMASA/Air Force deal that the DG of NIMASA engaged recently.

The Navy and the Joint Military Task Force in the Niger Delta code-named Operation Pulo Shield appear to be the toast right now, recording seizures and arresting of oil thieves and ships. The task force is responsible for the  unprecedented records of death  of oil thieves and pirates as well.

I think that NIMASA is currently saddled with a great deal of responsibilities, flag and port state issues, Cabotage, maritime labour and so on. It appears overwhelmed by its core responsibilities.

Even though the most reasonable model appears to be Coast Guard, which is already a tested global model in the fight against piracy and all forms of vices associated with seafaring in some climes, it has met a brick wall in Nigeria. And I dare ask: Why?

The question is: if the Coast Guard system has been tested and adjudged adequate in other maritime domains, what do we have against it in Nigeria.

I say again; it is the statutory responsibility of NIMASA to ensure a safe and secure passage for ships, crew and cargo.  The ad hoc arrangement with Navy or any private or public institutions for that matter is just what it is – purely, ad hoc.
The earlier NIMASA takes full charge the better for the nation, the maritime industry and the economy at large.

Welcome To Sesan Onileimo Maritime Blog

I have always wanted to do this. Now, I can. Now , we  can interact, freely on my blog. It's Sesan Onileimo Maritime Blog. The next step, isn't it?

For me, its a new world, but can't I live it alone. NO! I need you, yes, you and others to rub minds together and discuss maritime and shipping issues, only.

The journey to the present actually  started from Champion Newspapers as its Maritime Reporter .....winning laurels. By October 29, 2007, Shipping Position  Weekly newspaper was born on. And by January 4, 2012, under my watch, Nigeria's (and indeed West Africa's)  first maritime daily newspaper made its debut.

I have always wanted free expression, not hampered by the dos and don't s of journalism! That is exactly what Sesan Onileimo Maritime Blog has offered me.

So ,  I set sail!