Business
NPA, Intels Develop Three Berths At Onne Port
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) in partnership with Integrated Logistics Services (INTELS) Nigeria Limited has developed three Berths at the Federal Ocean Terminal (FOT), Onne, Rivers State.
Speaking to journalists shortly after the Nigerian Flag Development and Maritime Stakeholders Summit, Wednesday, in Port Harcourt, the Chairman, Board of Directors, Nigerian Ports Authority, Chief Tony Anenih, said the development of the berths was in response to the recent upsurge in maritime operations in the area.
Anenih noted that the Federal Ocean Terminal was initially conceived in the late 1970s to facilitate bulk cargo and container operations from mining and petrochemical industries within the Niger Delta region and its bordering communities but said however that it has in the recent times failed in its duties due largely to deplorable states of the berths and other sites.
Anenih stated that there was need to serve the oil and gas sector in the West and Central African Sub-region considering its huge contribution to the economy, adding that achieving it would be the development of the FOT.
The chairman said “with the increased activities in the oil and gas sector of the economy, the then Federal Lighter Terminal (FLT) became overstretched necessitating the urgent development and use of the FOT.”
He also stated that this need stirred the commissioning of the constructed berths 4, 5 and 6 at the FOT, Internal road network, comprehensive water network at the Federal Lighter Terminal, FLT 4 Jetty and West African Container Terminal (WACT) jetty still at the FOT.
Anineh revealed that the federal government earlier awarded the contract for the development of the FOT to a Dutch firm headed by Messrs Adrian Volker which commenced the construction of berths 1 and 2 but regretted however that the project was later abandoned due largely to paucity of funds.
He further stated that NPA in 1993 sought and obtained approval from the federal government for Intels Nigeria Limited to complete berths 1 and 2 measuring 500 metres length of quay wall which he said was executed through the Private, Public Partnership (PPP) based on the principle of amortisation.