The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has said that it might not allow the Engina FPSO due to arrive in January to access the Nigerian waterways or berth at LADOL jetty due to “the refusal of the parties involved in the project to request for towage and pilotage service as required by law”.
General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications of NPA, Abdullahi Goje, announced this in a statement issued in Lagos on Friday.
The statement also accused international oil companies (IOCs) of failing to pay for pilotage dues.
It said the organization has, with immediate effect, suspended service boats operations in all its pilotage districts until the full settlement of debts accruing from unpaid pilotage dues by IOCs and other beneficiaries of the services.
“The decision to stop the operation of service boats to debtor companies followed the failure and refusal of the affected companies to honour their obligations to the Authority in spite of several reminders over a couple of months to this effect.
“Given the fact that the companies, some of whose indebtedness run into tens of millions of dollars outstanding for over two years ignored the advice given by the NPA, the Authority had no choice than to pursue this course of action, which has been communicated to all companies concerned,” the statement read.
On the Engina FPSO, whose main component is currently sailing from South Korea to be coupled with its top side being fabricated at LADOL, the statement explained that the refusal of the parties involved in the project to request for towage and pilotage service from the NPA, being the only organisation empowered to provide same in the country), is contrary to the laws of the country and would be resisted.
It explained that notice has already been given to promoters of the FPSO to the effect that the vessel would not be granted access to Nigeria’s waterways and that the NPA would pursue legal remedies in its determination to ensure that no organisation impedes on the mandate of the NPA as provided in Part II of the Port Act.