Reform Attracts Larger Vessels To Nigerian Ports

The Nigerian Ports Authority has said that larger vessels of above 232.33 meters with capacity of 4,500 20-foot equivalent units (TEUS) requiring draught of 13.5 meters have started visiting the Nigerian seaports.
The authority said in its annual report, that the visits by the larger vessels have provided shipping companies with a high level of efficiency and economic space which has enhanced their turnover and turnaround time.
Industry stakeholders and shipping experts had at the beginning of the year harped on the importance of attracting larger ships, due to shippers’ preference for them as a result of their economies of scale advantage.
The NPA said its analysis of the country’s ports’ performance showed that most of the ports recorded increase in the Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT) mainly due to the constant capital and maintenance dredging of the channels at the nation’s ports that enabled the large vessels to call at the ports.
According to the NPA, apart from crude oil terminals, 1,366 ocean going vessels with a total GRT of 34.6 million gross tons called at Nigerian ports in the 3rd quarter of 2013.
Lagos Port Complex (LPC) recorded a GRT of 9.3 million gross tons showing an increase of 12.3 per cent over the 3rd quarter of 2012’s volume of 8.3 million gross tons while 369 ocean going vessels were handled at the port within the period.
“Port reforms has resulted in healthy competition as there has been an intensified effort by the terminal operators to procure cargo handling equipment and upgrade  of the various terminals while the Authority has continued   to provide common user facilities needed to improve port operations,” NPA’s managing director, Habib Abdullahi was quoted in a statement signed by the authority’s assistant general manager, public affairs, Musa Iliya.
Rivers Port complex recorded a total GRT of 1.4 million gross tons, with 108 ocean-going vessels at the end of the 3rd quarter. The  Onne Port complex recorded a GRT of 9.7 million gross tons, from 219 ocean going vessels in the period under review.
Calabar Port complex recorded a GRT of 751,553 gross. It also handled 35 vessels within the period under review, while the Delta Port Complex handled a GRT of 2.3 million from 94 vessels.

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