The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has acquired two bollard pull tugboats in its bid to enhance operations at the ports.
Speaking at the commissioning of the tugboats in Lagos, NPA Managing Director, Mohammed Bello-Koko, said the crafts will support port security, patrol and surveillance.
He said the move is coming on the heels of the authority’s corporate aspiration of attaining hub status by more efficiently servicing domestic cargo needs, winning back transit cargo hitherto lost to the nation’s maritime neighbours and positioning to cater for the maritime requirements of Nigeria’s landlocked neighbours.
The new 80 tons bollard pull tugboats named MT Maikoko and MT Da-Opukuro will complement the existing fleet of craft including security patrol boats and pilot cutters deployed to enhance channel security across all our locations.
“These neoteric 80ton tugboats are the first of the 2813 Azimuth Stern Drive (ASD) model in Africa constructed by the world’s leading ship builders (Damen) and they possess exceptional seakeeping behaviour, superb manoeuvrability of 360 degrees using the Azimuth thrusters, fire-fighting capability and outstanding towing characteristics which will enhance the manoeuvring of large capacity vessels of 300 metres LOA and above presently calling at our ports,” Koko said.
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