The Beach Master of
Nestoll PLC, Abuloma Jetty, Rivers State, Mr Jeremiah Isaiah Onu has condemned the indiscriminate blocking of the waterways within the area by other marine operators.
Onu, in a chat with The Tide correspondent during a maritime stakeholders safety awareness forum organized by the National Inland waterways Authority (NIWA) held in Port Harcourt said the head on parking of vessels and tug-boats obstructs the waterway as the length of the boat stretches out and block other waterway users plying the route.
According to him, they apply the pattern of mooring by using double banking system and sideways, and called on other vessel, tug-boat operators and marine equipment within the area to ensure that they park their vessels in accordance with world best practices so that they would not block the waterways.
He said the situation is pathetic when there is low tide as some of the barges cross the Abuloma creek, thereby making it difficult for other boat users to pilot their boats with utmost diligent and risk, adding that there is need to educate them on mooring inorder not to obstruct the waterways for all marines.
The Beach master disclosed that the company is expecting to construct a floating dock after the pilling inorder to have a permanent jetty, pointing out that renovation of the Nestoil Jetty is in progress inorder to get a permanent one for better operations.
On the company, Community relationship Onu said it has been very cordial and commended the Managing Director of the company, Dr Ernest Azudi Alu and the management for employing many Niger Delta indigenes and giving the host community its quota of employment, and enjoined him not to recent for better business atmosphere.
“With the employment of Niger Delta people, criminality had been reduced and most people especially the youths now have meaningful livelihood. I want him to stand firm and others to emulate the company activities, he said.
The Beach master also commended NIWA for the safety awareness campaign as many of the seafarers and marine operators are better educated on the need to operate with safety at all times and solicited for quarterly organization of the programmes.
Meanwhile, the former secretary of the maritime workers union of Nigeria (MWUN), Okrika branch, comrade Otimi Success Ogwara, has called on the authorities to remove all wrecks within the Port Harcourt – Abuloma – Okrika water route to enable boat operate freely within the waterways.
Ogwara appealed to NIWA to sweep the waterways as well as dredge it as it had been difficult for boat operators to play the route during low ebb, and thanked NIWA for the safety campaign.

Collins Barasimeye