05082020 - Buhari to completely rejig security system —NSA

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2020 6 By Godfrey Bivbere THE persistent boat accidents that have claimed the lives of several citizens have been blamed on the failure of regulatory agencies to enforce safety measures and control certification of the boat drivers. This is even as the National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA, said that it will, henceforth, de-register all indicted boat operators. Speaking with Vanguard Maritime Report on the development, former General Manager at the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, and now a maritime consultant, Chris Borha, said that they should have done more to check the increasing incidences of boat mishap that has cut short the lives of hundreds of water transport users. Borha noted that there had been several boat accidents in the past and wondered whether there were no investigative panels set up to find out the causes of such mishap. He noted that all the regulatory agencies, both states and federal, should step up their activities and ensure that commuters using water transport are protected, especially now that water transport has begun to catch up. He further stated the water transport is like that of road and wondered who was responsible for ensuring the safety of the passengers, the certification of the boat drivers as well as the boats. However, the Lagos Area Manager of NIWA, Sarat Lara Braimah, said the agency can no longer fold its hands and watch some deviant operators and their employees ruin the water transport system, noting that it will go for zero tolerance on boat accidents. She stated: “We have tried to provide needed enabling environment for the operators including training programmes to expose them to operational standards, yet some have chosen the path of desperation and dangerous behaviour, leading to loss of lives and property. “Time has also come for passengers to take responsibility, listen and obey boat crew when emergencies or turbulence occur. Sadly, some passengers go into frenzy and panic mood, and trigger off fearful alarm and cause bedlam leading to avoidable deaths.” She added that the new normal on water transportation will see to detailed take off protocols, pre-boarding checks and physical inspection of use of life jackets and safety talks to adequately prepare the minds of passengers in case of emergency situations. She also informed that unscheduled and random checks of boats to ascertain their seaworthiness will be News Regulatory agencies get knocks over boat mishaps •NIWA, NIMASA explain roles By Eguono Odjegba TWO groups, the Council of Managing Directors of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents, CMDNLCA, and the All Ports Unified Freight Forwarding Practitioners Association, APUFFPA, have accused the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders, NAGAFF, of attempt to uplift itself to a quasi-regulatory body. Their reactions came at the backdrop of NAGAFF’s setting up of what it called a Technical Committee to evaluate the performance of port concessions. NAGAFF had during the inauguration of the said technical committee, given it 60 days to come up with its report for onward submission to the Ministry of Transportation. National President of NAGAFF, Chief Increase Uche, explained that the committee would embark on reevaluation and assessment of port concessionaires such as APM Terminals Apapa and proceed to other terminal operators in Lagos ports. He said: “NAGAFF high command in her wisdom has decided to carry out a holistic re-evaluation/a comprehensive assessment of the performance of APMT among others. As the link that brings all the players together in the general supply chain, the freight forwarders have been dutifully carrying out their role as required particularly, in ensuring a seamless flow of ports operations, covering all the terminals including the APMT. incorporated into the enforcement strategy. Reacting to the death of the former industrial training student in the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Head Corporate and Strategic Communications, Phillip Kyanet, said: “We at NIMASA are indeed saddened by the death of Zainab in that boat mishap, a former intern with the Agency. It is quite regrettable that it happened. “The moment the Agency’s attention was drawn to the incident, two top management staff led a delegation to the family to commiserate and empathise with them. The Agency was involved in arrangements leading to her final interment. Prior to this unfortunate incident, the Agency had met with NIWA and LASWA to discuss more L-r: Unit Commander, Mile 2 of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Adebisi Solanke in a hand shake with the President General of United Berger Motor Dealers Association, UBMDA, Don Metche Nnadiekwe who led a team of the association to present a generating set to FRSC yesterday. Photo: Godfrey Bivbere Stakeholders challenge NAGAFF over committee on port concessionaires “From our informed knowledge the APMT has remained one of the terminals that have not achieved the purpose for which the government carried out the reform in the maritime industry. It is based on this fact and for numerous other reasons that this assignment is hereby bestowed on these selected members with the onerous task.” Also speaking at the inauguration, founder NAGAFF, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam tasked the committee to be diligent in their fact finding mission. Commenting, APUFFPA President, Prince Mike Okorie, described the action of NAGAFF as curious. He stated: “When I read the report online, I pinched myself, because it sounds funny and worrisome. Has the system and our government fallen to the level where individuals now arrogate government tasks to themselves? NAGAFF mentioned Ministry of Transport, and am wondering if the ministry has divested its agencies of their regulatory assignments and handed them over to individuals. “Some of their self assigned tasks carry presidential committee tags. I don’t really know what is happening in the industry anymore, whether government has taken the backseat from its regulatory function. Sometimes I wonder whether its all an attempt to hijack the function of Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding of Nigeria, CRFFN, because NAGAFF has about six seats in CRFFN.” Also reacting, Ari Ayuba, PTML chapter chairman of the Council of Managing Director of Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents, CMDANLCA, said NAGAFF's exercise was in futility and will lead nowhere. He stated: “I saw them wearing apron in the port. It is preposterous for anybody to just wake up and say you want to set up a presidential anti-corruption body, who gave you the powers? NAGAFF’s committee is unacceptable and illegal. The issue is not corruption but attitude of the Customs: customs-agents relationship; Customs-Importers-agents relationship; and vice versa. Customs needs to improve on that and the suspicion of collusion with these people to engage in corrupt practices can then be taken care of. NAGAFF doesn’t have any power to set up compliance committee; it can only monitor the conduct of its members. “As freight forwarders NAGAFF’s concern should be to raise awareness about un-motorable port access roads. Since their primary job is freight, they should also focus on the roadworthiness of trucks picking containers at the port, and maybe partner with VIOs to ensure road worthiness compliance. The rate at which containers are falling down, damaging goods worth millions of naira on the road is alarming. Apart from those, there is high cost of transportation freight; these are the areas NAGAFF should concern itself with.” maritimerepor6005@gmail.com collaborative ways towards a safer and more secure maritime domain.” NIMASA, dockworkers close ranks T HE Nigerian Maritime Ad ministration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, and the National Association of Stevedoring Companies, NASC, have resolved to work more closely to advance the nation’s maritime interests. The NIMASA has also declared a renewed commitment towards furthering the interest of stevedores as captured in the 2014 Stevedoring Regulation. Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, disclosed this in Lagos during a courtesy visit by the leadership of the National Association of Stevedoring Companies, NASC. Jamoh pledged to work more closely with the NASC to improve the working conditions of dockworkers in the country, even as he sought closer partnership between the Agency and NASC, and greater involvement of the stevedoring companies in the ongoing effort to amend the NIMASA Act. The director-general stated: “We understand our responsibility towards the dockworkers and we are committed to ensuring that their rights and welfare are safeguarded at all times. Our recent directive to registered stevedoring companies, via a marine notice, to mobilise to their work locations and commence operation is in line with that commitment. “NIMASA is, as always, willing and available to assist dockworkers. We remain committed to facilitating an enabling environment for stevedores to operate, and thrive. As an agency, we need deeper partnership with the stevedoring companies and, indeed, more participation from you in the current effort to amend the NIMASA Act and realise a more robust law that works for all of us. But we also urge the NASC to be more proactive in communicating challenges you face to facilitate more timely interventions by the Agency.” Jamoh appreciated the steps the leadership of NASC was taking to improve capacity and welfare of stevedores. He said closer collaboration between the association and NIMASA would result in more efficient operations at the ports and better working conditions for dockworkers. Earlier, President of NASC, Mr. Bolaji Sunmola, who led the delegation, stated that since its inception, the association had provided a platform for discussion, formulation, and implementation of policies affecting maritime labour, with focus on cargo handling operations. Sunmola added that assisting NIMASA in the administration of Maritime Labour, as specified in the relevant enabling Acts, remained a primary focus of the NASC. He acknowledged the ongoing efforts of NIMASA to enforce the new Stevedoring Regulations and reiterated his association's readiness to work with the Agency to successfully implement the regulations aimed at improving revenue generation and sustaining capacity building within the maritime industry.
maritimerepor6005@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2020 Foreign Maritime 7 •Vessel in distress Maritime transport efficiency confab confirmed for October 5-6 in Geneva THE event will bring together the main players in research, innovation and technological development as well as key actors in the maritime transport industry. Postponed to October 5-6 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Maritime Transport Efficiency Conference (MTEC) will provide an exceptional opportunity for shipping industry representatives and technology solution providers to finally get together, exchange ideas, share projects and do business in a safe and comfortable environment. The Maritime Transport Efficiency Conference is committed to delivering a successful event in Geneva and acknowledges that health and safety is integral to this objective. MTEC will ensure that it has a high quality health and safety policy in place which is appropriate for the prevailing A TOTAL of 317,900 TEUs of containers were traded between South Korea and eight other economies in Asia in June, which decreased 6.5% year on year from 340,000 TEUs, according to statistics compiled by the Korea Customs Service (KCS). South Korea exported 163,800 TEUs, down 10.6%, and imported 153,000 TEUs, down 1.6%, indicating that exports diminished much more severely than imports. By trade partner, 97,000 TEUs were moved to and from Vietnam, down 6%; 46,900 TEUs to and from Thailand, down 17%; 38,000 TEUs to and from Malaysia, down 5%; and 34,900 TEUs to and from Indonesia, down 9%. Containers to and from the Philippines also declined 9% to 18,800 TEUs, but improved from April and May, when they advice in October. New partners and speakers, including Siemens, Louis Dreyfus Armateus, Syroco, ZESTAs (Zero Emission Ship Technology Association) and Swiss Shipowners Association RECENTLY published figures from Swedish Confederation of Transport Enterprises for the first quarter of 2020 show a clear trend. APM Terminals in Gothenburg is growing four times faster than the market. Through creative and customized solutions, APM Terminals Gothenburg ends the first quarter of the year with a market share of 44%. The trend in the first quarter of 2020 continues the pattern seen for the full year 2019. It is evident that APM Terminals in Gothenburg is growing more than the market and gaining market share. Volume is being moved from the East Coast and S. Korea and 8 Asian economies record lull in container shipping for 3 months registered double-digit contractions for two months running. In contrast, those to and from Taiwan and Hong Kong were both robust, growing 7% to 39,100 TEUs and 5% to have joined the conference this month. Over 100 delegates and 12 exhibitors have already confirmed their presence at the Maritime Transport Efficiency Conference in October. There is still room, but space is limited. transported with climate-smart train solutions via Gothenburg, instead of via feeder transport along Sweden’s long coast. “Over the past two years, we have consistently seen that flows are directed to Contact us rapidly if you wish to take advantage of this excellent opportunity, and register at https://mteconference.com if you wish to attend the conference as a delegate. APM Terminals Gothenburg grows four times faster than the market Shanghai port sees container throughput hit record high in July THE container throughput of Shanghai port exceeded 3.9 million TEUs in July, hitting a record high, according to Shanghai International Port (Group) Co Ltd (SIPG). The port saw its container throughput total 149,565 TEUs on Thursday, representing a record single-day high. As China’s economic recovery picked up speed in the second quarter, the country has seen rapid growth in cargo trade. Shanghai port has been receiving more EXPORTERS in the United States will have a busy start to the upcoming marketing year after the record or nearrecord soybean and corn sales this month, though they will have to keep an eye on shipments out of Brazil, which will continue to compete with U.S. supplies well into next year. The South American country is the No. 1 exporter of soybeans and in the top three in corn. Brazil’s soy supplies should soon be winding down to give way to U.S. exports, though next month’s shipments may be at least average or above. Brazil soy export industry group containers since the second quarter, said Huang Haidong, general manager of the operation and business department of the SIPG. Under scientific management and the assistance of automation technology, staff of Shanghai port have overcome obstacles brought by COVID-19, summer heat and the flood season to secure this great achievement, Huang said. The container throughput of Shanghai port totaled 43.3 million TEUs last year, ranking the first in Gothenburg thanks to the terminal’s high service level and the market’s demand for stable solutions. The Corona pandemic has only accelerated this trend, says Dennis Olesen, CEO of APM Terminals Nordic. Brazilian exporters unfazed by strong U.S. corn, soy demand Anec this week reduced its forecast for July soybean and corn exports, but the numbers remain strong. Anec sees this month’s corn shipments at 5.4 million tonnes, shy of last July’s record of 5.9 million, but easily second-best. The next three months are usually Brazil’s biggest corn shipping months. Last year’s August-October volume reached a new high of nearly 20 million tonnes, though this year’s total exports are seen lighter than in the previous year. Anec pegs July soybean exports at 8.4 million tonnes, well short of 2018’s record of 10.2 million. That would place exports since February, when the new harvest began arriving at ports in earnest, at 67.4 million tonnes, some 23% more than 2018’s high for the period. Industry estimates suggest this year’s Brazilian soy exports around 80 million tonnes or more, which means at least another 12 million would ship over the next few months. As of this week, the shipping lineup shows 5.3 million tonnes of soybeans scheduled to depart in August. August 2019 exports reached 5 million tonnes, well off the month’s high of 8.1 million tonnes set in 2018, when the U.S.- Greece reopens six ports to cruise ships GREECE on Saturday reopened six of its main ports to cruise ships for the first time in the coronavirus-shortened tourism season, but no ships are expected before three weeks. In a letter to the Cruise Lines International Association and three major cruise operators early this week, Tourism Minister Harry Theoharis said the ports of Piraeus in Athens, Rhodes, Iraklio, Volos, Corfu and Katakolo would accept passengers, state agency ANA reported. After docking at one of the six ports, cruise ships will be able to travel elsewhere in Greece, depending on local coronavirus conditions. But shipping minister Giannis Plakiotakis said on Thursday that cruises would only restart after August 20. He said foreign cruise lines had expressed their interest in operating in Greek waters but that “cruises are an international operation and face serious problems because of the coronavirus”. With a quarter of the economy dependent on tourism, Greece has sought to capitalise on its relatively low infection rate to bring in visitors. So far officials have announced nearly 4,500 infections and 206 deaths. Last month, Greece began to reopen its land borders to select countries, before allowing mostly European flights to all its airports on July 1. U.S. sells record amount of corn to China as tensions rise CHINESE buyers booked their single biggest-ever purchase of U.S. corn, extending their flurry of large U.S. purchases even as tensions between Washington and Beijing rise. The U.S. Agriculture Department said on Thursday that private exporters sold 1.937 million tonnes of corn to China for delivery in the 2020/21 marketing year. That topped the previous biggest deal to China of 1.762 million tonnes, reported just two weeks ago. In a separate report, the USDA said soybean sales to China rose to 1.925 million tonnes in the week ended July 23, the biggest weekly total since Nov. 17, 2016. The recent purchases place China closer to the ambitious $36.5 billion target for imports of U.S. farm goods this year set in the Phase 1 trade deal. Analysts and traders say that target may be achievable, but it is looking like a stretch. The corn sale reported on Thursday was valued at around $325 million, based on new-crop prices at the U.S. Gulf. China’s American farm purchases amounted to $6 billion through May – the latest data available – up just 9.1% from the same period in 2019 and 31% below 2017’s level. China on Thursday accused the United States of stoking a new Cold War ahead of its presidential election in November. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also called the Chinese
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05082020 - Buhari to completely rejig security system —NSA

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