738,789.435mt of petroleum products to flood ports as New Year gift

News was prepared under the information support of Online Daily Newspaper on Hellenic and international Shipping "Hellenic Shipping News".

30 Dec 2008

No fewer than 60 ships laden with 738,789.435mt of various petroleum products are expected to arrive at the ports within the first two weeks of the New Year. Investigation conducted have shown that out of the 60 ships coming to do business at the Lagos ports and oil terminals in the next two weeks, 40 vessels with 448,429.157 metric tons of petroleum products are still on

the high sea, while 20 are already at the country’s waters since the beginning of December 2008, waiting to discharge their goods. Further investigation revealed that out of the 60 ships, only nine will bring in 78,400 metric tons of diesel, while 11 will come in with 73,000 tons of kerosene.
Moreover, four ships will discharge 22,150 tons of base oil, three will bring in 33,200 metric tons of aviation oil, while two laden with 16,500 tons of low pour fuel oil, will be expected at the Lagos ports.
Similarly, two vessels will be bringing in 3,000 tons of bitumen and 67,44.157 tons of ethanol, alongside 27 others with 505,795.278 tons of premium motor spirit, otherwise known as petrol.
According to the Nigerian Ports Authority Shipping Position, apart from the 60 ships bringing in petroleum products, other 61vessels carrying various consumer goods, vehicles and food items, are still expected at the ports within the period.
Out of the 61 ships, 31 ships will be bringing in containers, seven will discharge both new and used vehicles, while the remaining vessels will discharge bulk wheat, bulk cement and frozen fishes.
Already, 22 ships laden with bulk wheat, general cargoes, fish, bulk cement, containers, petrol, aviation oil, oil well equipment, diesel and low pour fuel oil, are at the ports transacting businesses, and would be expected to leave before the end of the week.
However, industry watchers who spoke with our reporter are of the opinion that the influx of petroleum product into the country was a good development provided the consignments are discharged as soon as possible.
They explained that lack of berthing spaces at the oil terminals will still be a major challenge to the importers of the petroleum products in 2009, unless government finds a lasting solution to it.
Also from the Nigerian Ports Authority Shipping position, the data shows that the rate of congestion at the ports have gone down in the last one week, due to the rush to take delivery of consignments for the yuletide.
Maritime analysts are speculating that if the tempo at which importers were taking their consignments during the yuletide is not sustained, the congestion at the ports will still increase in the next few weeks.

Source: Business Day Online