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The manager of Onne Port, Alhassan Ismaila Abubakar has taken delivery of one unit tug boat sent from the headquarters of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Lagos.
The tug boat, MT Ohafia, a Nigerian flag ship with the registration number, 9252711, and earlier registered in Lagos arrived Onne port habour recently .The Onne Port manager, accompanied by his management team, took delivery of the tug boat.
The vessel, 100 percent owned by NPA, has a gross tonnage of 369 GRT, while the tug net tonnage stands at 110NRT. According to report, the sea craft was built by Rynwaal Shipyard, Rivierdi JK 436, 3372 BW Hardinweld of the Netherlands.
In an interview with Maritime journalists at Onne port after receiving the vessel the port manager, Alhassan Ismaila Abubakar said the arrival of the tug boat will improve operational capacity and value chain at the port.
“You cannot operate Onne port effectively without tug boats. This watercraft (tug boat) is what we need to get job done,” Abubakar explained.
He said the boat will go for repairs at the repair yard to ensure operational efficiency when deployed. He observed that the aim of receiving the tug boat is to serve NPA’s numerous customers well, and to raise adequate revenue for federal government.
Alhassan expressed gratitude to the managing director of the NPA, Hadiza Bala Usman for sending the tug boat to Onne port.
“This is just the beginning. We thank the MD for fulfilling her promise during her recent visit to Onne Port to give us a tug boat to boost our operations. We thank her for fulfilling her promise”, the port manager said, noting that more tug boats and more support to Onne port from NPA headquarters is underway.
Alhassan Abubakar said that the new tug boat will add to the one they already have, stating that it will improve their service delivery to their customers.
“Our focus in Onne Port is to serve our clients better. Let me say that this tug boat received from NPA MD will complement the services of the one we already have at Onne port” Alhassan stated.
He said the tug boat will definitely contribute to reduce the cost of doing business at Onne port, and called for patience by users at the port.
Speaking during a brief hand-over ceremony, Onne port’s harbour master, Captain Olatunde Ola, noted that there is need to test run the boat, to ensure it is on top form before deploying it to work. He urged all to prepare their minds for usage of the tug boat.
On his part, the dockyard manager, Engr. Daniel Imasi assured that they will do a mop-up to ascertain the tug’s endurance capacity while sailing on sea. He expressed optimism that the tug boat is on top form since it sails from Lagos to Onne port.
Engr. Imasi also said they have every historic details of the tug/vessel and assured that they will always embark on planned maintenance of the vessel through carrying out of both intermediate and annual surveys.
The port manager’s team included Onne port’s harbour master, Captain Olatunde Ola, dockyard manager, Engr. Imasi Daniel, traffic manager E.A. Adukanya, port public affairs manager, Mrs. Barbara Ejemeh Nchey-Achukwu and others.
