The crisis between Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and a group identified as Association of Professionals for Safety in Shipping in Nigeria (APOSSIN) has assumed a new dimension as NPA petitions relevant Federal Government agencies.
Already, the management of NPA has alerted the National Assembly and other relevant agencies on the activities of the group.
Investigation revealed that the crisis is associated with the position of NPA on the Secured Anchorage Area (SAA).
APOSSIN had recently forwarded a six-point petition to the National Assembly, accusing the NPA of disrupting its operations and instructing shipping operators to stop paying for personalised security services offered in SAA being operated by the Nigeria Navy (NN) in collaboration with a private firm, Ocean Marine Solutions Limited (OMSL).
Meanwhile, investigation has revealed that vessels of shipping firms who patronise OMSL are charged $2,500 for the first two days and $1,500 for subsequent days.
It was also discovered that OMSL is yet to account for money collected. “Revenue generated from the operation of the company from 2014 to date has not been remitted to NPA nor to the Federal Government”.
A source explained that there was indeed an anchorage called Secure Anchorage Area (SAA) being operated by OMSL in collaboration with the Nigerian Navy, adding that “The SAA is within the Lagos Pilotage District of Nigerian Ports Authority as provided in the NPA Act. The Nigerian Navy provides security to OMSL at the anchorage .But, unfortunately, revenue generated from the operation at the SAA are not remitted to the Authority nor the Federal Government”.
According to the source, the allegations made against NPA by the petitioner are not true and “I strongly advise the National Assembly and the general public to just discountenance same in its entirety”.
The source said: “For our federal lawmakers and Nigerians to really understand the issues, I will like to explain what an Anchorage means. It is an area within the approaches of a Port which is suitable for ships to anchor, created within the Pilotage Districts for the purpose of providing shelter for vessels calling at or departing from the ports”.
He said that over the years, another anchorage area known as Secured Anchorage Area (SAA) other than its designated Anchor Area, was in existence and operated by OMSL in collaboration with the Nigeria Navy.
Available information indicates that the said SAA was authorised by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) which published a Marine Notice on the existence of the SAA as an Additional Security Service Facilities for the provision of dedicated watch to vessels seeking extra protection while at the anchorage offshore in Lagos.
NPA later found that the Nigerian Navy, in collaboration with the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO), published the SAA in its Admiralty Chart No.1381 of Lagos Ports Limits & Approaches dated March 10, 2011.
The then NPA Management observed that some false information in the charts indicated that the Anchorage being operated by the Authority was ill-equipped, thereby giving an impression that it is not secured. This is contrary to the assessment of the same facility by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) which commended NPA for the standard of facilities and security at the location.
NPA then insisted that, without prejudice to the powers of the Nigeria Navy, delineation of an Anchorage Area is the responsibility of the Authority.
In addition, publication of Notices to Mariners on vessels calling at the Nigerian Ports as regard the port limits and approaches is the responsibility of NPA and not NIMASA.
To stop the continuation of actions that may affect Nigeria’s maritime interest, coupled with high cost for vessels coming to Nigeria arising from the exorbitant charges being collected by OMSL, NPA via letters dated October 24 and 25, 2017 respectively sought the intervention of the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, to dismantle the facility.
It was learned that Amaechi’s intervention led to series of meetings involving officials of the ministry, NPA, NIMASA and Naval officers, “the outcome of which was a directive to NPA to dismantle the facility”.
To give effect to the directive, NPA set up two in-house Committees: Committee for the dismantling/reorganisation of the Lagos Anchorage and Committee on Implementation Plans for the dismantling of the SAA.
Sequel to the committees’ recommendations, the Authority in a letter dated October 9, 2019 and addressed to the Nigerian Navy, requested for stoppage of the operation of SAA, pending conclusion of a new framework being put in place by it in collaboration with the Navy and other agencies that are critical to the operation of the Anchorage.
Already, the Navy has been informed that the NPA “is taking steps to issue a Notice to Mariners for the discontinuance of SAA operation and a consequent amendment of the British Admiralty Chart 1381”.
The steps taken by NPA on the SAA was communicated to stakeholders at its quarterly meeting held on October 10, 2019 at the NPA Conference Room, Lagos Port Complex.
Based on this, NPA instructed shipping operators to stop paying for personalised security services offered in the Secured Anchorage Area (SAA) being operated by the Nigeria Navy (NN) in collaboration with OMSL.
