The Federal Government says it is putting strategies in place to sanction vessels that contravene the International Maritime Organisation sulphur regulations
The Minister of Marime and Blue Econnomy, Adegboyega Oyetola, disclosed this on Monday, during the arrival ceremony of the largest container vessel, ‘CMA CGM Scandola’, powered with Liquefied Natural Gas at Lekki Port, Lagos.
Oyetola, who was represented at the event by the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Mr. Mohammed Bello-Koko, said the government was procuring the needed tools to enhance the capacity of the NPA for sulphur analysis.
The International Maritime Organisation’s Green House Gas Strategy 2023, envisages a reduction in the carbon intensity of international shipping by at least 40 per cent by the year 2030.
The minister said, “To put action behind our word, we have taken concrete steps towards the procurement of necessary tools to enhance NPA’s capacity for sulphur analysis as well as put in place a sanction regime for vessels who contravene the sulphur regulations.”
He reiterated the need to minimise air pollution created in the shipping industry by reducing the sulphur content of the fuels that ships use.
“So transition to the use of natural gas which is more environmentally friendly by vessels plying our waterways is a most welcome development. This is driven by the larger national interest due to the fact that Nigeria’s gas quality is reputed to be high and virtually without sulphur.
“The Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy is convinced that shipping has a pivotal role to play in global decarbonisation efforts, this is why I would like to seize this moment to commend the management of the NPS’s compliance with the ministerial directive to take cognizance of global energy transition in its port modernisation project by deliberately factoring in measures that promote energy efficiency,” Oyetola added.
The former Osun State governor said that aside from the vessel’s distinctive feature of eco-friendliness, ‘Scandola’ ranks amongst the largest container ships to be calling in West Africa with 15,000 twenty equivalent units.
Earlier, the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sannwo-Olu, in his opening speech, had said that receiving such size of a vessel called for celebration.
“I think it’s a big feat, it’s something that we need to roll out drums and be proud of. Indeed, we’re putting Lekki Free port, we’re putting Lagos, we’re putting Nigeria on the world’s global logistics marine business. This is a business that has been a privilege to a few countries, developed countries in America, Europe, Far East, and some parts of Africa as well,” he said.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of Lekki Deep Seaport, Du Rougang, said the berthing of the vessel created a new plan for Nigeria’s ports.
“We want to ensure that Lekki Port plays a major role in the nation’s maritime industry, “ he said.
