The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) is currently considering a proposal from Nigeria, which is itching to establish Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) and new dedicated anchorage for vessels making approaches into Lagos ports. The new proposal, if approved, will enhance the emergence of new route for vessels visiting the Lagos ports.
The Nigerian proposal came up for consideration at the recent maritime safety sub-committee meeting of the organisation, in London.
Although, it was not immediately clear when the country through the Nigerian Ports Authority forwarded the proposal to the world maritime regulatory body, the matter however came for consideration at the London meeting.
The proposal by Nigeria was aimed at improving safety of navigation in view of the inhibited danger and risk orchestrated by local tankers, which continue to anchor indiscriminately at the Lagos fairway.
Besides, the new routing system would enhance maritime safety by preventing collision of major international visiting vessels and other coastal ships anchoring around the fairway.
According to the organisation's committee on safety of navigation, the Nigerian government was also proposing a new routing system to reduce the risk of pollution or other damage to the marine environment as a result of vessels colliding or grounding within the channel.
The Nigeria's initiative would also provide uninterrupted traffic flow in and out of the Lagos harbour, just as it would reduce the possibility of collision of vessels because of the emergence of separate movement of traffic flow along the fairway.
Under the new arrangement, a Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) was proposed in a location south of the present fairway buoy, where ship traffic would be directed in and out of the Lagos entrance channel, while the dedicated anchorage for all classes of vessels was proposed at a location that is eight kilometres, west of the present fairway buoy.
After the emergence of the TSS and dedicated anchorage, the present fairway buoy would then be used as a pilot boarding ground, as only vessels with pilotage programme would be allowed to proceed to this point, using the TSS lanes.
The Lagos channel is about seven kilometres and serves as a gateway to the Lagos ports.
The Lagos channel, the committee said, has been experiencing tremendous increase in vessel traffic, as a result of port concession and the general economic growth.
The increase in vessel traffic, as being envisaged into Lagos, would correspondingly intensify the demand for pilotage operations, spanning both day and night, with the attendant need for safety of navigation, protection of marine environment and the expeditious movement of ships in and out of the ports to reduce their turn around time.
The NPA, which proposed the new routing system and dedicated anchorage for vessels approaching Lagos said it took into consideration the depth of water, prevailing current, wind and current direction, roles of the road, provision of stones and supplies to ships and easy access to the hospital before the new arrangement.
The country, through the NPA, told the IMO that other factors like traffic control, ship and port facility security (ISPS) code, MARPOL regulation, local rules, safety of navigation, metreological conditions and traffic density, influence the new location for the new routes and separate anchorage.
NPA, few days ago organised an interactive session with all stakeholders on the proposed scheme as requested by the IMO.
Meanwhile, the Managing Director of NPA, Mallam Abdul Salam has explained that the proposal was aimed at providing excellent services to customers, adding that "the authority, having appraised constraints of shipping lines, the NPA, in consultation with the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), resolved to propose the new ship routing measures for Lagos and Bonny channels."
He said the authority was not unmindful that an efficient ship routing measure must be completed, among other things, to effect up-to-date navigation charts, regular survey, adequate pilotage boats, well managed channel, functional aids to navigation, VIS station and emergency contingency plan.
Salam commended NIMASA for its commitment to the new ships Routing project, reiterating that he has no doubt that the two sister agencies would continue to partner as stakeholders in areas where joint efforts and collaboration would best serve the shipping community".
He was optimistic that at the end of the technical presentation, the quality of the proposal for the Lagos and Bonny/Port Harcourt Pilotage Districts shall be ready for presentation to IMO in the 55th session of the sub-committee on Safety of Navigation in July 2009.
Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Shamsudeen Dosumu, said the agency was very interested in any measure that will enhance maritime safety, security and the protection of the nation's marine environment.
Represented by Capt. Ade Olopoenia, the director-general reiterated that the agency would continue to collaborate and partner with the NPA on the new proposal, considering its immense relevance to the channels in Lagos and Bonny/Port Harcourt areas.
At the occasion, both the NPA and NIMASA made presentations on the technical aspects of the new proposal and comments were made by the stakeholders.
The Nigerian proposal came up for consideration at the recent maritime safety sub-committee meeting of the organisation, in London.
Although, it was not immediately clear when the country through the Nigerian Ports Authority forwarded the proposal to the world maritime regulatory body, the matter however came for consideration at the London meeting.
The proposal by Nigeria was aimed at improving safety of navigation in view of the inhibited danger and risk orchestrated by local tankers, which continue to anchor indiscriminately at the Lagos fairway.
Besides, the new routing system would enhance maritime safety by preventing collision of major international visiting vessels and other coastal ships anchoring around the fairway.
According to the organisation's committee on safety of navigation, the Nigerian government was also proposing a new routing system to reduce the risk of pollution or other damage to the marine environment as a result of vessels colliding or grounding within the channel.
The Nigeria's initiative would also provide uninterrupted traffic flow in and out of the Lagos harbour, just as it would reduce the possibility of collision of vessels because of the emergence of separate movement of traffic flow along the fairway.
Under the new arrangement, a Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) was proposed in a location south of the present fairway buoy, where ship traffic would be directed in and out of the Lagos entrance channel, while the dedicated anchorage for all classes of vessels was proposed at a location that is eight kilometres, west of the present fairway buoy.
After the emergence of the TSS and dedicated anchorage, the present fairway buoy would then be used as a pilot boarding ground, as only vessels with pilotage programme would be allowed to proceed to this point, using the TSS lanes.
The Lagos channel is about seven kilometres and serves as a gateway to the Lagos ports.
The Lagos channel, the committee said, has been experiencing tremendous increase in vessel traffic, as a result of port concession and the general economic growth.
The increase in vessel traffic, as being envisaged into Lagos, would correspondingly intensify the demand for pilotage operations, spanning both day and night, with the attendant need for safety of navigation, protection of marine environment and the expeditious movement of ships in and out of the ports to reduce their turn around time.
The NPA, which proposed the new routing system and dedicated anchorage for vessels approaching Lagos said it took into consideration the depth of water, prevailing current, wind and current direction, roles of the road, provision of stones and supplies to ships and easy access to the hospital before the new arrangement.
The country, through the NPA, told the IMO that other factors like traffic control, ship and port facility security (ISPS) code, MARPOL regulation, local rules, safety of navigation, metreological conditions and traffic density, influence the new location for the new routes and separate anchorage.
NPA, few days ago organised an interactive session with all stakeholders on the proposed scheme as requested by the IMO.
Meanwhile, the Managing Director of NPA, Mallam Abdul Salam has explained that the proposal was aimed at providing excellent services to customers, adding that "the authority, having appraised constraints of shipping lines, the NPA, in consultation with the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), resolved to propose the new ship routing measures for Lagos and Bonny channels."
He said the authority was not unmindful that an efficient ship routing measure must be completed, among other things, to effect up-to-date navigation charts, regular survey, adequate pilotage boats, well managed channel, functional aids to navigation, VIS station and emergency contingency plan.
Salam commended NIMASA for its commitment to the new ships Routing project, reiterating that he has no doubt that the two sister agencies would continue to partner as stakeholders in areas where joint efforts and collaboration would best serve the shipping community".
He was optimistic that at the end of the technical presentation, the quality of the proposal for the Lagos and Bonny/Port Harcourt Pilotage Districts shall be ready for presentation to IMO in the 55th session of the sub-committee on Safety of Navigation in July 2009.
Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Shamsudeen Dosumu, said the agency was very interested in any measure that will enhance maritime safety, security and the protection of the nation's marine environment.
Represented by Capt. Ade Olopoenia, the director-general reiterated that the agency would continue to collaborate and partner with the NPA on the new proposal, considering its immense relevance to the channels in Lagos and Bonny/Port Harcourt areas.
At the occasion, both the NPA and NIMASA made presentations on the technical aspects of the new proposal and comments were made by the stakeholders.