Ship owners shun Nigerian ports over attacks

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

31 Dec 2009

Ship owners and chartered vessel operators are no longer willing to allow their vessels to call at any of the  Nigerian ports for fear of attack by pirates. It was learnt that the few ones that called do so at very high freights.
The Secretary of the Lagos Pilotage District Berthing Committee, Mr Stephen Famitola who dropped the hint urged the National Assembly to speed up the passage of the Maritime Security Agency (MASECA) Bill to enable shipping activities flourish again in the country.
Fatomilola said that the attacks had negative effects on the image of the nation, the economy and the global shipping business.
 He also called for the composition of a naval task force similar to the Military Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta to be solely responsible for maritime security within the nation’s territorial waters.
Fatomilola added that the Task Force should be able to put into use naval boats and other facilities now available to the naval authorities.
He added that the establishment of the Naval Task Force should be devoid of government bureaucracy
He explained that the Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and security operatives should ensure the successful passage of the bill.
Fatomilola suggested that the agency should be placed under the supervision of the Presidency.
He decried the incessant piracy attacks on ships in Nigerian waters, saying that the last three years had witnessed growing attacks on ships and facilities.
“The relentless rise in armed attacks have raised much concern, with increasing security threats almost overwhelming the waterways,” Fatomilola alleged.
According to him, the committee would not be wrong to say that agencies saddled with the responsibility to combat piracy should be stripped of their maritime security functions.
Fatomilola said such bodies should be allowed to concentrate on their primary responsibilities of dealing with cabotage matters, developing the shipping industry and overseeing safety standards.
He recalled that on Oct. 30 at about 22.00 hours, sea pirates numbering about 10, armed with sophisticated weapons, attacked a vessel MV Silveretta that was drifting 20 miles off the fairway bouy. 
He alleged that the crew members on board made efforts to reach the maritime security agencies through telephone but to no avail, until the pirates made away with cash and other valuable items.
Fatomilola also recalled that on Dec. 11, another vessel, MT Trade Wind, was attacked and her petroleum products siphoned and other valuable items carted away.
He also alleged that efforts by the crew to reach maritime security operatives also proved abortive.
Fatomilola said that the attacks had negative effects on the image of the nation, the economy and the global shipping business.
“Owners and those who charter vessels are no longer willing to allow their vessels to call at any of our ports and the few ones that call do so at very high freights,” Fatomilola said.

Source: Compass News