Managing Director/CEO, Nigerian Ports Authority, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho

The Nigerian Ports Authority NPA has initiated talks with stakeholders, including APM Terminals Apapa Limited APMT, the largest container terminal in the country and major shipping lines with a view to addressing delays associated with the evacuation of empty containers, which might cause congestion if not promptly addressed.

In attendance at the meeting apart from APMT were Maersk Line, Hapag Lloyd, Pacific International Lines PIL, CMA CGM and COSCO Shipping, a development stakeholders have described as proactive, timely and commendable.

General Manager¸ Corporate and Strategic Communications, NPA, Mr. Ikechukwu Onyemekara, who gave details on the meeting, disclosed that the agenda basically featured proactive ways to address the issue of pileup of empty containers at various port terminals, which could cause serious congestion, especially in Apapa Port if not urgently tackled.

Onyemekara disclosed that a major fallout of the meeting in that the NPA has requested all the shipping lines to submit an updated list of their holding bays, including locations and capacity.

According to him, NPA had also pointed out the need to be involved in the examination of those holding bays so as to keep abreast of the potential operational challenges.

On the issue of terminal capacity at the APM Terminals, the shipping lines and the management of APMT were said to have agreed to improve on the process of making information available in respect to free pools to shipping lines to be able to guide container movement.

It was further gathered that the shipping lines pointed out that the recent congestion was as a result of gate closure by the APMT.

However, Onyemakara said the APMT management insisted that the terminal has reached its full capacity as a result of more imports and exports, saying there was delay in the evacuation of cargoes by the shipping lines.

On the way forward, the General Manager said that it was resolved that the APMT should always communicate yard stock levels to the shipping lines to enable them plan.

“It was also resolved that the notification period prior to terminal gate closure should be revised as follows: five (5) days initial notice in advance; three (3) days reminder before closure and one day (1) final notice before closure.

“While it was further resolved that APMT was to engage off dock terminals by moving import containers to off dock terminals in order to create more space within the terminal, the Port Management should actively participate in the inspection and assessment of holding bays to better understand and manage capacity and operational challenges.

“While all parties acknowledged their respective responsibilities, it was agreed that better communication, timely notification and strategic use of holding bays and bonded terminals were critical to alleviating pressure on terminal capacity”, Onyemakara said.