The management of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) said it has handed over to Melsmore, its technical partner, the site given to it by the Nigerian Ports Authority to host the modular floating dockyard at the Continental Shipyard Limited (CSL).
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 floating dock to the Continental Shipyard for the commencement of full operations.
NIMASA and the technical partners also agreed to invite manufacturers of the floating dock, which is Damen Shipyard, to join in commissioning the dockyard, while site preparations are ongoing. This is to ensure the floating dock is deployed in the shortest possible time.
While addressing officials of Melsmore, Bashir Jamoh, the director general of NIMASA, said there is a need for them to review the action plan in line with the realities on the 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 the potential to boost maritime trade, create jobs, and 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 among other maritime institutions come for a practical time,” the DG said.
Danny Fuchs, the managing director of Melsmore, thanked the management of the Agency for the opportunity to work on such an important project and 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 that the Nigerian Ports Authority recently leased designated areas at the Continental Shipyard for the operations of the Modular Floating Dock.
The areas include the dolphin jetty, the 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.
