By Olubunmi ISOKPEHI, Lagos
The President of the Association of Marine Engineers and Surveyors AMES, Engineer Adeyinka Okunade, has called on the attention of NIMASA over the non-utilization of the N50 billion worth floating drydock laid up wasting away at the Naval Dockyard in Lagos.
He made this known during a press briefing in Apapa today.
According to the Engnr Okunade, “the floating dry dock which was built to Lloyd’s Register’s class has not been surveyed since it’s delivery to Nigeria over 3 years ago. The class has been withdrawn and the floating dock is now seriously becoming a derelict.”
He added that, AMES believed that the acquisition of a floating Drydock by NIMASA was a sound decision, based on the drive to to develop the Maritime industry infrastructure.
He explained further that the acquisition and eventual operation of the Dock would solve the perennial dilemma faced by indigenous ship owners and ship operators.
He said that NIMASA should have chosen the NPA dockyard which already has a dedicated berth for a floating dockyard.
However, he asserted, “The floating dock which is presently moored at the Naval Dockyard, Commodore pool, Victoria Island, Lagos, is now 3 years at this location and rusting away as a result of the treacherous sea-like weather conditions at the Naval Dockyard.”
The AMES president referred to a publication of April, 2019 which says “the cost of the floating dock to cost N50billiin to acquire , over N3.6million in daily expenses and US$30,000 per day as berthing charges to the Nigerian Navy.”
According to him, “a floating drydock is one out of five types of drydocks used for ship repairs. It is a submersible platform that is specifically designed and used to repair vessels.”
His words: “It is a mobile facility that could be navigated to the location of a disabled vessel at sea, carry the vessel, and navigate back to base, where the disabled vessel can then be repaired and restored back to service.”
Adding, “The floating drydock is a Modular type constructed by Damen Shipyard Gorinchem, of Netherlands, in 2016”
In his opinion, Okunade said the mooring of the floating dock(MFDP NIMASA) at the Naval Dockyard is an avoidable wastage in terms of not only humongous expenses but safety of the floating drydock itself and the potential environmental pollution that may occur.
Engr. Okunade urged the Federal Government, through the Minister of Transportation, to order NIMASA and NPA to synergize and commission the MFD NIMASA into operation immediately.
Speaking further, he said, “the Floating dry dock be handed over to a Marine Engineering company that specializes in ship Repairs and Maintaining to operate it profitably.”
He reiterated, “Our mission as AMES is not to criticise but suggest a way forward. We have made a couple of attempts to see the NIMASA Director- General, but for one reason or the other, we have not been able to get feed back from them.”
“When the floating drydock is in use, the benefits will be unlimited, with the primary shipowners becoming beneficiary. Irrespective of the location, so far it adds value, it is of commercial viability,”
