NPA reviews, lift suspension order on shipping firms

Harboursandport.com: Lagos --- THE Management of the Nigerian Ports Authority has restored services to the four shipping Companies whose operations were suspended for their failure to comply with the directive of acquiring and operating holding bays for their empty containers.

The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA),

Hadiza Bala Usman (middle), the Flag Officer Commanding

(FOC) Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral, Sag

Abbah (right) and the Executive Director, Marine and Operations,

NPA, Dr. Sokonte Davies during a courtesy visit by the FOC to

the Managing Director at the Authority’s Corporate Headquarters

in Marina, Lagos today. Photo by NPA Media

The affected shipping companies have been given two weeks, beginning from Friday July 20^th 2018 to comply with four conditions to ensure sustainable relationship.

In a statement signed by the Assistant General Manager in charge of the agency's Corporate and strategic Communication, Isah Suwaid, said that some of the conditions are that they must increase the capacity of their holding bays ranging from 1,800 TEUs (Twenty Equevalent Units) to 7,500 TEUS, that the affected companies will sign-off on the volume capacity of the holding bays verified at the end of the grace period and that at the expiration of the two weeks, an inspection will be conducted to ascertain compliance and that the Authority warned, thereafter further sanctions will be applied on failure to meet the said conditions.

It could be recalled that a fortnight ago, shipping services of Maersk line, Cosco Shipping, APS and Lansal were suspended by the NPA for their inability to upgrade their holding bays capacities. The suspension was for 10 (ten) days in the first instance.

The two weeks period of grace granted to the four affected shipping companies was sequel to a meeting the Authority held with officials of the companies over the weekend.

The decision by the NPA to grant the period of grace was after due consideration of their presentations at the meeting and a subsequent joint inspection on their existing facilities.

A formal letter dated 20^th July, 2018 informing the affected companies of the review of the suspension order signed by the General Manager, Marine & Operations, Mr. Joshua Asanga on behalf of the Managing Director, Hadiza Bala Usman, has since been despatched.