N50billion Floating Dockyard, NIMASA hands over leased site

By Abiodun OBA

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has handed over the leased site of the N50billion floating Dockyard at the Continental Shipyard Limited (CSL) of the Nigerian Ports Authority to its technical partners, Melsmore for operation.

This indicates that the agency is fully set for commencement of full operations.

The technical partners are to liaise with the Management of the Nigerian Ports Authority in finalising site management, which includes risk assessment in preparation to move the Modular floating Dock to the Continental Shipyard for the commencement of full operations.

NIMASA and the technical partners agreed to invite manufacturers of the Floating Dock, Damen Shipyard to join in recommissioning the Dockyard, while site preparations are ongoing to ensure the Floating Dock is deployed in the shortest possible time.

The Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, OFR, while addressing officials of Melsmore, emphasised the need for them to review the action plan in the light of realities on ground with detailed deliverables, and key performance indicators with clearly stated timelines.

“Nigerians eagerly await the deployment of the Modular Floating Dock. This is a national asset, which has potentials to boost maritime trade, create jobs, develop skills, by providing training avenues to various maritime training institutions in Nigeria, while also attracting foreign investment and preventing capital flight, thereby generating revenue.

“We hope to have students from the Maritime Academy of Nigeria and the Maritime University Okerenkoko amongst other maritime institutions come for practical time”, the DG said.

In his remarks, the Managing Director, Melsmore, Mr. Danny Fuchs expressed profound gratitude to the Management of NIMASA for the opportunity to work on such important project.

Fuchs gave the assurance that the company is prepared to handle the movement of the floating dock from the naval dockyard to the Continental Shipyard Limited (CSL).

Recall, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) recently leased designated areas at the Continental Shipyard for the operations of the Modular Floating Dock.

The areas include the dolphin jetty, waterfront of the jetty adjourning the slipway, an administrative block, a construction, welding and mechanical workshop and a civil maintenance workshop, among others.

The project will be run on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.