Nigerian vessels rot away on high sea

Scores of Nigerian vessels are currently lying idle and rotting away on the high sea due to a shortage of cargoes or lack of maintenance.

On a tour of the Lagos waters, The Guardian saw many of the ships permanently anchored, and scattered on the high sea around the Apapa pilotage. Experts classified them as abandoned vessels; wrecked ships; sneaking ships, and waiting vessels.

The abandoned vessels threaten the safety of incoming ships. The wrecks are also a huge loss to the maritime industry, which is currently struggling to gain strength on flag carriers.

It was learnt that operators of the affected ships are facing financial challenges as they could not gain access to the over $100million Cabotage Fund, which is being managed by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

Besides, a particular section of the Cabotage Law, which is meant to protect the indigenous ship owners, is allegedly being used to favour foreign vessels as government grants waivers at the expense of local operators.
The Guardian, August 24, 2017

 

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