Barge Operators, Maritime Union Harmonises Maritime Agencies SOP For Efficient Operations

Harboursandport.com: Lagos - In a bid to ensure safety and efficiency of port operations in the country, the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN, and the Barge Operators Association of Nigeria, BOAN have harmonised the Standard Operating Procedure, SOP of the various government regulatory agencies in the sector.

From left - The Managing Director, Nurwags Integrated Services Limited, and member of the steering committe by MWUN and BOAN,  Mohammed Nura Wagani, Bola Muse, member of the steering committee and Deputy National President of MWUN, Tonye Harry, and Ibrahim Oheze Ibrahim, at the public presentation of the Standard Operating Procedure, SOP for barge operation in the country held in Lagos.

The harmonisation was done by a 10 man steering committee set up by both bodies.

Disclosing this yesterday at a press briefing, the chairman of the steering committee, Ahmed Mohammed, said to develop barging as a viable alternative for cargo transportation, MWUN, and BOAN to produce the SOP.

Mohammed who was represented by his deputy, Tonye Harry, said that the SOP cover issues of safety, maintenance, training, documentation, and certification, chandlering, medical, and communications.

It also covers levies and dues, welfare, guide to conduct, fuelling, berthing speed, insurance, barge management system app (BMP), and others, he said. He noted that after the completion of its task and the public presentation, its enforcement will commence from Monday 15, 2021.

He also said that the SOP will serve as a guide to any and every person or organisation involved in barging operations within Nigerian territorial waters. He further explained that the deplorable state of the access road to the Lagos ports and the attendant gridlock which is having a negative effect on port operation; makes barging a necessity.

He said that barging is the most economical mode of cargo transportation, able to transport bulk commodities for a fraction of the cost of moving them by road and coupled with the fact that barging is also environmentally friendly; it becomes a very significant alternative and caught the attention of stakeholders.

A member of the steering committee and a barge operator, Bola Muse, said barge operators do not have sub-standard barges. Muse noted that the management unit will soon be inaugurated to commence the enforcement of the SOP.