The Lekki Deep Sea Port Friday received three Ships To Shore cranes and ten Rubber Tyred Gantry cranes.
On hand to witness the arrival of the cranes was the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mohammed Bello-Koko and his management team.
The arrival of the operational facilities is preparatory to commencement of commercial operations at the Lekki Deep Sea Port.
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The Managing Director of Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), Mohammed Bello-Koko in his remark after the berthing delivery the three state-of-the art Ship to Shore (STS) Cranes and ten (10) Rubber Tyred Gantries (RTG) said arrival of the equipments are critical to the commencement of operations of the Lekki Deep Seaport.
He noted further that the Authority will continue to support all investments targeted at enhancing operations, and assured that Lekki Deep Sea Port is set to redefine the West African regional Deep Seaports with Nigeria as hub.
He said, “It is historic as it moves us a step closer to birthing Nigeria’s first Deep Seaport and also demonstrates our readiness to take trade facilitation a notch higher.
“The commitment of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to providing every support necessary to place Nigeria on the global list of countries with Deep Seaports is unflinching. This is why matters related to the operationalization of Lekki Deep Seaport before the end of this year have been placed on top priority.”
Bello-Koko thanked President Muhammadu Buhari and the Federal Ministry of Transportation for the tremendous backing given to the NPA, in relation to the development of the Lekki Deep Sea Port.
“For us at the Nigerian Ports Authority the coming on stream of Lekki Deep Sea Port symbolizes a lot of positives. Apart from being Nigeria’s first Deep Seaport, Lekki Port will also be the first fully automated port at take-off.
“This provides an insight into the path we are already toeing as a management team to govern the operationalization of not just the forthcoming Badagry, Ibom and Bonny Deep Seaports, but also of the reconstruction of the aged Tin-Can Port, where work is set to commence once we secure the necessary approvals from the Federal Ministry of Transportation and FEC respectively.
He said the Authority will continue to encourage and drive ports automation across subsectors of the industry, even as he applauded the Lekki Free Trade Zone and other development partners.
“Let me reiterate that automation remains the most veritable tool for assuring Port efficiency, and as most of us are aware, the NPA is working assiduously under the technical guidance of the International Maritime Organization to deploy the Port Community System (PCS), which will enable us respond squarely to the dictates of global trade facilitation and optimize the opportunities of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement to which Nigeria is signatory.
“Our strategic intent of becoming the maritime logistics hub for sustainable ports services in Africa rests heavily on how well we are able deepen our efficiencies through a construction of deep seaports in order to leverage the concomitant benefits of economies of scale.
“I would like to say a big congratulation to all stakeholders on this milestone and wish us greater strides as we push the envelope of trade facilitation.’
The facilities which were shipped in by Hong Kong heavy lift carrier, ZHEN HUA 28 owned by Shanghai Zhenhua Port Machinery, sailed to anchor in a blaze of quiet glory amid thunderous applause of everyone present at 1.09pm.
Also speaking, Chairman of LFTZ,
Abiodun Dabiri expressed delight with the delivery of the ports handling equipments, noting that their arrival has re-echoed it’s projection to commence operations before the end of the year
and operated by Shanghai Zhenhua Shipping Co., Ltd, both of Hong Kong, China.
The vessel Official with Registration No. HK-2194 and IMO No. 8700266 is Class ABS with Hong Kong Port Registry Class No.8839369.
Zhen Hua 28 Main Engine Type is
GRTA62 SUMITOMO-SULZER, with Horse Power of M/V10440KW. The vessel keel was laid on November 6, 1987 by
SUMITOMO HEAVY INDUSTRIES CO., LTD. JAPAN. Its overall length is 232.00metre, with 42.00metre breadth mould and depth mould of 13.50metres.
The operational vessel has a design draft of 9.20metres, gross tonnage of 40915 and net tonnage of 12004. The vessel agent is Bolloré/Alraine.