NIMASA to use PPP arrangement to manage modular floating dockyard
Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) says it is perfecting arrangement to explore Public Private Partnership (PPP) option in the management of its newly built modular floating dockyard worth over N180 million.
The PPP arrangement will ensure optimal utilisation of the dockyard for the benefits of the nation’s shipping sector and the economy at large.
Speaking in Lagos on Wednesday at a media parley with maritime editors/correspondents, Dakuku Peterside, director-general of NIMASA, said the agency would manage the administration aspect of the floating dockyard while the yet to be named partner, would manage both technical and training aspects of the modular floating dockyard.
“Aside providing in-country capacity for dry docking of vessels which has been lacking, the facility will also be made available as a training facility for cadets and undergraduates and students on internship from maritime institutions in Nigeria including Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN) Oron, Nigerian Maritime University and other institutions,” he said.
According to Peterside, it is expected that when fully operational, the dockyard will save the Federal Government at least $100 million, which is the estimated annual capital flight from dry-docking vessels abroad.
Recall that NIMASA had in the second quarter of the year, taken delivery of the floating dockyard, which was built by Damen Shipyards and NIRDA in Amsterdam, Netherlands. It has the capacity to not only repair ships but would also transform Nigeria’s maritime industry by generating wealth through service delivery to shipping companies and creating employment for Nigerians.
Before now, it is estimated that over 90 percent of vessels operating in Nigeria carry out their dry docking services overseas, exporting the much needed foreign exchange at great cost to the nation’s economy, resulting in capital flight and huge job losses.
On other achievements recorded by NIMASA within the first half of the year, he further stated that the number of Nigerian seafarers placed onboard vessels from January to June 2018 grew to 2,337 and this represents 58.9 percent increase in the number of seafarers employed.
“We have also witnessed an increase in total number of wholly Nigerian owned vessels on the Nigerian Cabotage register. Half year result shows 125 vessels registered representing 33 percent increase when compared with the 94 registered in the corresponding period in 2017,” he said.
He stated that NIMASA was also facilitating sea time training in partnership with some international institutions that had access to ocean going training vessels.
In the first phase of the NIMASA fully sponsored sea time training, 150 cadets have commenced their on-board sea time training, in conjunction with Arab Academy of Science, Technology and Marine Transportation in Alexandria, Egypt, while another group of 89 cadets are now onboard training vessels facilitated by the South Tyneside College, UK, making a total of 239 cadets in the first phase of the programme, he said.