Shipowners Hail NPA For Abolishing Safe Anchorage

The Shipowners Association of Nigeria (SOAN), has lauded the management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) for abolishing the safe anchorage area in the ports.
The Tide reports that the safe anchorage is operated by OMSL Limited.
OMSL is a private security firm that charges fee on vessels anchoring at the ports in collaboration with the Nigerian Navy.
SCOAN, in a statement by its President, Dr. Mkgeoge Onyung, decried the huge charges by the security firm on shipping companies.
According to him, owners of ships coming to Nigerian ports pay as much as $2,000 per day to the private security firm to secure their vessels while waiting on anchorage to berth at the seaports in Lagos and other parts of the country.
The association considered the decision of NPA as a right step in the right direction.
The statement quoted Onyung as saying that the continuous operation of a private security firm which is not recognised under the Nigerian constitution constitutes a threat to national security.
The President called on the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to allocate part of the two percent contribution by shipowners in the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) to the Navy to help provide needed infrastructure to secure the nation’s waters.
He insisted that it was the responsibility of the Nigerian Navy to provide security for vessels.
“Remember that at one time, Navy was even removed from the equation when a private company owned by Tompolo was securing Nigerian waters. I think it is the remnant of that effect that is still lingering on.
“For me, I do not see any reason why we should begin to create safe anchorage. What study has been done to be able to determine that this is one of the options to consider? Who knows, this can lead us further into insecurity. So, we support NPA to cancel the safe anchorage.