Shipping agents have called for a refund of the N4.98 million spent on hiring private boats to facilitate pilot operations at Onne Port in Rivers State, following the inadequacy of tugboats and pilot cutters for vessel mobility.

They also demanded that tugboat, pilot cutter, and towage charges be removed from provisional bills, allowing them to arrange these services directly when needed.

The request was made in an open letter dated December 12, 2024, addressed to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, and the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho.

The letter was signed by Stanley Itama, leader of the Shipping Companies/Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Berthing Committee at Area 2 Onne Port Complex, Eastern Zone.

The committee urged urgent intervention to address the lack of operational pilot cutters, insufficient tugboats, delays, escalating operational costs, and widespread disruption.

They raised the alarm over the growing inefficiencies and infrastructural deficits that have forced shipping agents to hire private boats at their own expense to enable marine pilots to board vessels for berthing and departure.

According to the committee, this has resulted in an accumulated cost of N4.98 million, with shipping agents paying N300,000 whenever a pilot cutter is unavailable for scheduled vessel operations.

The committee also pointed out that the pilot cutter PC Ogbona, which has been out of service since January 2024, is a significant factor in these increased costs.

The committee emphasised that the failure of the pilot cutter PC Ogbona has placed a heavy financial burden on shipping companies, forcing them to bear the high costs of hiring private boats for pilot services.

?While the pilot cutter Ogbona and tugboats are listed as available at Onne Port, the services have been inefficient for years due to inadequate operation,? the letter stated.

Although the NPA has acknowledged complaints raised by the committee in previous correspondence dating back to October 2021, the issues remain unresolved and continue to disrupt port operations severely.

Notably, one of the letters addressed to the Port Manager of Onne Port in August 2023 highlighted delays in vessel movement due to the inefficiency of pilot cutters, which led to demurrage accrual on two vessels, MV SAFMARINE CAMEROON and MV KOTA LEGIT, when marine pilots could not board the vessels as scheduled.

The committee also referenced a more recent letter preceding the open letter, titled Inoperative Pilot Boat in Onne Port. They said this communication called for immediate action to ensure the provision of services already paid for in the provisional bills raised by the NPA and paid upfront by shipping agents before vessel arrivals.

The committee explained that tugboat, pilot cutter, and towage services are outsourced to third-party providers at all ports in Nigeria. They further pointed out that the lack of fuel to make tugboats operational when needed exacerbates the situation, leading to delays, demurrage costs, and financial hardship for the shipping community.

These additional costs, which must be covered upfront by shipping agents, have significantly burdened businesses in the region. The committee has called for more significant funding and timely provision of essential port services to address these ongoing deficiencies.

They also urged the National Assembly to intervene and ensure that the NPA is adequately funded and empowered to meet its obligations, thereby improving service delivery and port infrastructure.

Furthermore, the committee has called for action to tackle corruption and unethical practices among port staff, particularly marine pilots, which contribute to the extortion of shipping agents.

The committee recommends the reshuffling of marine pilots after four years at a station to reduce the negative impacts of over-familiarity and unethical practices,

The committee believes that resolving these issues is crucial for improving operational efficiency at Onne Port and enhancing Nigeria?s broader marine and blue economy sector.

They urged the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy to take swift action to address these long-standing infrastructural challenges and ensure that the port can operate at its full potential. (The Guardian)

? Itama, leader, Shipping Companies/Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Berthing Committee, Area 2 Onne Port Complex, Eastern Zone

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