Yemisi Izuora
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has lifted the ban on four shipping companies with a caveat that they must increase the capacity of their holding bays ranging from 1,800 TEUs to 7,500 TEUS within two weeks.
Four shipping companies – Maersk Line, Cosco Shipping, APS and Lansal – were suspended fortnight ago for their failure to comply with the NPA directive of acquiring and operating holding bays for their containers.
The development was contained in a press release issued by NPA signed by Isah Suwaid, Assistant General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communication of NPA.
According to the release, the two weeks period of grace granted to the four affected shipping companies was sequel to a meeting the Authority held with officials of the companies over the weekend.
”However the affected shipping companies have now been given two weeks, beginning from Friday July 20th 2018 to comply with four conditions to ensure sustainable relationship.
”Among the conditions are that the affected companies must increase the capacity of their holding bays ranging from 1,800 TEUs to 7,500 TEUS; that the affected companies will sign-off on the volume capacity of the Holding Bays verified at the end of the grace period and that at the expiration of the two weeks an inspection will be conducted to ascertain compliance and that the Authority warned, thereafter further sanctions will be applied on failure to meet the said conditions.
”The two weeks period of grace granted to the four affected shipping companies was sequel to a meeting the Authority held with officials of the companies over the weekend.
”The decision by the NPA to grant the period of grace was after due consideration of their presentations at the meeting and a subsequent joint inspection on their existing facilities,” said the release.
It could be recalled that a fortnight ago, shipping services of Maersk line, Cosco Shipping, APS and Lansal were suspended by the NPA for their inability to upgrade their Holding Bays capacities. The suspension was for 10 (ten) days in the first instance.