Vincent Toritseju
Lagos — THE Federal Government through the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, has commence the reconstruction of the Escravos Channels valued at $300million with a view to attracting more vessel calls at the Delta ports.
Speaking to Newsmen at the concluded International Maritime Organization, IMO, training programme for Port State Control officers, Managing Director of the NPA, Mr. Mohammed Belli-Koko, said the contract has been awarded.
Bello-Koko also disclosed that before the contract was awarded, the Berthometric study amongst other studies had to be carried out adding that the contract for that study awarded to Royal Heskony, a consulting firm while the contract for construction was awarded to a firm called Fugro.
He explained that the breakwater is the single most expensive port infrastructure of any port, which according to Bello-Koko, takes a lot of processes.
He disclosed further that the special stones needed for the construction of the breakwater is not found anywhere near the Niger-Delta area.
According to the NPA boss, “The breakwaters collapsed about ten years ago; some of the equipment needed for the construction work are not in the country; they have to be brought in from outside the country.
“The construction of the facility takes time, the stones needed for the construction of the breakwater are not within the Niger-Delta region, they have to be moved from their location to the construction site.
“The cost of construction has been fluctuating within the range of $300million, it could be a bit less or more depending on the exchange rate.’’
Recall that the 8kilometer long breakwater has been affected by siltation over the years and this has either reduced the number of vessel calls at the ports in Delta or vessels have to wait for high tide before they can approach the Excravos channel.
Reacting to the development, a former Managing Director of the Escravos Pilots Nigeria Limited, Captain Charlie Tobi, said that the channel must be dredged after the construction of the breakwater adding that not dredging will amount to a waste.
Tobi also said that after the construction of the breakwater, more and bigger vessels will now call at ports in Delta including Sapele Port, Burutu Port, Warri Port and Koko Port.
In a letter to the Managing Director of NPA, Tobi also recommended that quality metal sheet should be used for the shore protection going by the dimensions and characteristics of the breakwaters.
Parts of the letter reads: “We would like to bring the under-listed recommendations inclusive to you for the consultant/contractor for proper standard and lasting breakwaters.
“The length, breath of the main and Island moles should be same as Lagos breakwaters. The length of the shore protection along the shoreline is 4.5miles from Ogidigben to Madangho.
“For the shore protection due to sea eroding the shore to the channel, salt water density 105kg and to maintain proper depth on the channel after the project and dredging, only quality marine sheet should be used for the shore protection, same as (Marina) in Lagos.”
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