RSG Acquires Ferry Boats, Trawlers

In a bid to boost Marine Transportation and deep sea fishing in the state, Rivers State Government has acquired five modern ferry boats and five fishing trawlers.

The Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi disclosed this at a two-day Maritime Summit on Flag Development and Cabotage implementation organised by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and Indigenous Shipowners Association of Nigeria (ISAN) in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.

The Governor who was represented by the commissioner for Transport, George Tolofari said that ten Marine Engineers and skippers have been sent for training in Portugal as part of its maritime capacity-building programme.

He urged investors to avail themselves of the investment opportunities in the maritime sub-sector of the state, which include, revamping the Rivers State Marine Transportation Services Limited (RMTS) at Marine Base, Port Harcourt, through the Public – Private Partnership (PPP) financing arrangement and provision of passenger and freight services.

Others are Establishing Ship/boatyards for building and repairs of marine vessels, setting up of marine equipment/spare parts sales and servicing companies; partnership with Ministry of Transport, marine department to provide marine technical consultancy and support devices.  On Maritime Manpower Development; set-up marine training school and the reactivation of M.O.T Marine Driving School and embark on building of River ports, Inland Container Depots (ICD) as part of Marine Infrastructural development.