Vincent Toritseju
Lagos — The Ports Facility Security Officers, PFSO, Forum has warned against carrying of arms on board vessels during inspection at ports of destination.
Speaking at its monthly PFSO meeting, Chairman of the Forum, Dr. Ignatius Uche, said that such practices were against international conventions as vessels are seen as representatives of other countries.
According to him the tank farms around Apapa and the port areas have also made the environment too volatile for the use of arms on board vessels.
He advised that the use of arms on board should be discouraged by all means because uncontrolled application of such arms could spill into port facilities which could lead to avoidable accident like the case of the Lagos Deep Offshore Base Limited, LADOL.
He stated: “Some of these tank farms are volatile; the use of arms on board should be highly discouraged so as to avoid unpleasant situations or accidents.
“The non-use of arms on board vessel berthed at terminal would also eliminate extra judicial killings and accidental discharge.
“It will also reduce if not eliminate violence in port facilities and avoid a repeat of what happened in LADOL Base in Apapa a few weeks back.
Uche, however, acknowledged that international ship owners are advocating for the use of arms on board their vessels in view of attacks on the investments by pirates, a development that is contrary to the convention of the International Maritime Organization, IMO.
