FG moves to ensure safety of ships

By Dele Aderibigbe, Lagos - updated: Tuesday 25-03-2009

A ship on anchor at Apapa Wharfs THE Federal Government, in a bid to raise safety standards and reduce threats of attacks to ships, has proposed the establishment of new ships’ measures in addition to a dedicated anchorage for Lagos approaches.

According to a paper delivered at the Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos, by the Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mallam Abdul- Salam Mohammed, last week, the choice of Lagos was based on the fact that Lagos ports provide the shortest distance from the fairway buoy, aside from enjoying the advantages of both a commercial and industrial city which assures it of continuous ship patronage.

The proposal, if adopted, he explained further, would enable an “uninterupted traffic flow in and out of the Lagos harbour for all vessels, with no restriction and without any unapproved crossing traffic pattern.

“The Lagos channel, which is about seven kilometres, serves as a gateway to Lagos ports of Apapa and Tin Can Island. The preference of Lagos is that it is the most economically developed region in Nigeria with important industries and a population of over 14 million.

“This channel has been experiencing tremendous increase in vesel traffic as a result of the port concession and general economic growth.

“From every indication, this trend will continue and this is expected to translate into increase in marine transport demand,” the statement, read by Captain C. Ebubogu on behalf of the Managing Director, highlighted further.