As part of new efforts to boost operations, the management of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) is set to commission acquired two modern tugboats to enhance marine operation and service delivery in the Lagos Pilotage District.
The boats, MT Daura and MT Ubima were delivered to NPA by Depassa this month and moored parked at Continental Shipyard Limited in Apapa, awaiting commissioning by the Managing Director.
Details from the corridors of power at NPA reveal that the ultra-modern, high-tech boats were acquired at the sum of 9million Euros each (equivalent of N3.1billion), bringing the total amount spent on both to a princely N6.2billion.
Explaining the reasons behind the names of the new tugboats, a competent source revealed that “Don’t forget that Daura is the home town of President Muhammadu Buhari while Ubama is the home town of Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi and we felt that their names can be immortalized using the new operations tugboats”..
It would be recalled that two similar boats – named MT Uromi and MT Majia – had earlier been delivered by Depassa on September 1, 2015 and have been deployed to enhance the provision of marine services to ships coming in and going out of the ports.
Design specification said “The new tugboats were built by Damen shipyard in Romania and they have very strong engines built by Rolls Royce. They are the best you can find in any port of the world. They are strong and very efficient”.
Addition information also show that both of them were from the series of ASD Damen tugboats 2810 with 60tonnes bull and pull power. They are 28metres long and 10metres wide, with a two-thruster propulsion system built by Rolls Royce and driven a state-of-the-art turbo MTWU 4000 diesel engines made in Germany. They have a speed of 40 knots, which makes for faster deployment and operation. They also have fire-fighting capabilities.
Besides, the Managing Director of Depassa Nigeria Limited, Mr. Danny Fuchs confirmed that his company had delivered the new tugboats to NPA.
He said “As ships are becoming bigger so the tugboats must become stronger. The new boats will make for better efficiency because they can handle ships of any size including the Egina FPSO expected in Nigeria soon”.
Managing Director of NPA had on assumption of duties assured stakeholders of driving an NPA that will be competitive and modern to regain the hub of shipping in West Africa.
