The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) says the channel of water in Nigeria has been dredged up to 14.5 metres draft and can accommodate bigger vessels as long as 250 metres.
The General Manager, Western Ports of NPA, Chief Michael Ajayi, stated this on Monday in Lagos.
“The channel is excellently safe. Prior to concession, we had about 12.5 metres, but as I speak to you now, we have 14.5 to 15 metres draft.
“Two hundred and fifty-metre vessels can be well-accommodated and the quay side too has been properly dredged.
“We even have some 13 metres, 12.5 metres now along side, very safe. They (APM Terminals Ltd.) have successfully brought in a vessel of 250 metres – WAFMAX.
“There are two kinds of wrecks. There are wrecks along our channels. Is our responsibility to remove that one and we have been removing them.
“Even the one at the turning bay has just been removed; I just even read a report today.
“The wrecks along the turning bay had been removed, cleared and dredged by LCM.
“They are mandated to maintain our channels – (LCM) Lagos Channel Management.
“They had been excellently doing a lot of work cleaning the floors of the ocean every time.
“Nobody is even complaining. Our channels are excellently maintained.
“At the Eastern ports, we have the Bonny Channel Management doing an excellent job at that axis too.
“And that is why you have all these large vessels coming in, taking crude oil off Nigeria.
“So, our channels are beautiful. Internationally, nobody is complaining.“
He said that NPA was on top of its statutory duty of ensuring that Nigerian ports attracted bigger vessels.
Maersk Line makes direct calls from Asia, especially China, to Nigeria with about 4,500 containers loaded in one West Africa Maximum (WAFMAX) vessel due to the dredged channels.
The Bonny Channel Company Ltd. is a Joint Venture Company established and incorporated in August, 2005.
The structure is 60 per cent equity shareholding by the NPA and 40 per cent equity shareholding by the consortium -The Channel Management Company Limited (TCMC).
The Lagos Channel Management Company (LCM) manages the Lagos Pilotage District.
LCM was incorporated in August 2005 by NPA with an equity shareholding of 60 per cent and 40 per cent equity to the Joint Venture partner- DEPASA MARINE INTERNATIONAL.
