The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has put two newly purchased bollard pull tug boats into service in an effort to prepare the nation for smooth commercial operations. Mohammed Bello-Koko, the managing director of NPA, said during the commissioning of the tug boats in Lagos that the launch will deliver pertinent maritime craft to support port security, patrol, and surveillance.
These esoteric 80-ton tugboats are the first of the 2813 Azimuth Stern Drive (ASD) Model in Africa, according to the world’s top shipbuilder, Damen. They have outstanding seakeeping behavior, superb 360-degree manoeuvrability using azimuth thrusters, fire-fighting capability, and outstanding towing characteristics, which will improve the maneuvering of large capacity vessels 300 meters LOA and above currently calling at our ports, he continued.
He added that their deployment will enable stakeholders leverage the concomitant benefits of economies of scale, especially cost savings.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, said Nigeria being the first in Africa to acquire these 2813 model of Damen’s ASD neoteric 80 Tons Bollard Pull Tugboats, NPA has accentuated the determination of the Federal Ministry of Transportation to boost port operational efficiency.