New Guidelines for Barge Operations at Seaports Takes Effect Sept.1
kOKO bELLO
*As NPA Unveils ultra modern records centre
The management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has established a regulatory framework for the operation of barges across the nation’s seaports under a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), which must be complied by all operators effective September 1, 2021.
Further to this development, the Authority is poised to review the modalities for the registration of barge operating license with emphasis on operators meeting the minimum safety standards ((MSS) of their barges. Failure to meet this requirement will bar an operator from using the channel, the General Manager, Corporate & Strategic Communications, Olaseni Alakija said in a statement.
Under the new set of regulations, an electronic call up system is being developed for deployment for barge operations in which barges would remain at their anchor until they are called to pick or discharge cargo.
This is aimed at streamlining their movements to reduce congestion and possible threat to ocean going vessels.
The NPA has in this regard also set out to capture a comprehensive profile of all barge operators, which will highlight the carriers’ corporate name, to make for easy identification, especially in line with efforts to check the deployment of dilapidated barges that are in poor state and do not meet the minimum standards for barges and tugboats.
Acting Managing Director of the Authority, Mohammed Bello Koko made these known while speaking during an interactive session with members of Barge Operators of Nigeria (BOAN) who paid him a working visit recently at the Authority’s corporate headquarters on Marina, Lagos.
Speaking during the meeting, Bello Koko stated that it is a new era in barge operations and all operators are required to key into this regulatory provisions.
The MD also told the barge operators that government has instituted a binding tariff scheme payable to NPA as well as to the operators.
“There would be a harmonised interactive session (berthing meetings) between the barge operators and the relevant designated Port Managers for specific areas where information sharing would be prioritised accordingly”, he said.
These meetings are envisaged to create a forum where illegal Barge and Jetty operators would be identified.
To create a relief for the barge operators, the NPA Chief Executive advised all Terminal operators not to demand the collection of a 20 million naira bank bond, with a promise to liaise with the relevant government agencies for a downward review of prevailing charges on carriage of Containers.
On communication, the acting Managing Director also hinted that henceforth, the installation of acceptable UHF Radio communication devices as well as navigational lights on board crafts would be among the critical mandatory requirements for operators by September 1 to ensure safe and secured operational services.
Continuing, Koko solicited the collaboration of stakeholders in ensuring that best practices are strictly adhered to in this respect, informing stakeholders that amongst the expected requirements for barge operators, there would be class and personnel certification in order to ensure that they are sea worthy.
Furthermore, he lidentified efficient barge operational systems for easy evacuation as a panacea for port congestion, as this would ensure that regulatory standards are strictly adhered to, warning that no illegality would be tolerated any longer.
On capacity, he said management is strategising for effective partnership with barge operators in the area of training to enable them acquire more knowledge on the profession which is expected to impact positively on general port operations if the regulatory standards are strictly adhered to.
To further ensure safety in navigation of barges, Tug masters are required to possess Pilot Exemption Certificate (PEC) even as night operations are abolished while double loading of barges are prohibited to prevent damage to the quayside.
While speaking on the need to deploy information communication technology( ICT) into barge operations, the NPA Chief Executive informed stakeholders that management will interface with the operators through notable NPA digital communication platforms and relevant divisions as well as personnel for a harmonised and more efficient single window operations, which is expected to stimulate operational efficiency.
Additionally, the barge operators who have been operating for close to three years without paying any tariff would now be required to make payments to the NPA, thereby generating more revenue for government.
Meanwhile in a bid to sustain operational efficiency, the NPA weekend commissioned a state-of-the-art ultra modern e-Documents Management and Records centre at its Corporate Headquarters in Marina Lagos.
The Acting Managing Director of the Authority who unveiled the ultra modern Records Management and Solution Centre described it as a testament of the Management’s relentless efforts aimed at comprehensively improving the Agency’s position at developing seamless customer based services and operations.
He highlighted the fact that it is the Strategic intent of the Authority to sustain competiveness in the sub-region by giving priority to documents safety through automation and digitalization
Bello koko stated that in adherence to the Authority’s plan to deploy a 360 degree Document Management solution, management aspires to migrate from physical archiving to digitalization up to work flow via Electronic Documents Management Solution (EDMS) with strategies to localise same at Port locations as functional retention centres.
At the moment the Authority has two other functional retention centres in Apapa and Port harcourt to serve the lagos and eastern ports respectively. This is in addition to another record centre undergoing automation located along the Apapa port area.
The NPA Acting Managing Director added that the speed and seamless nature of the EDMS in records storage and processing has a bearing on the organization’s desire in achieving customer satisfaction and excellence whilst promoting the Ease of doing Business.
He said: ”In fact this event is very much in synchronization with our drive towards attaining compliance status of the International Organisation for Standardization (ISO).
The ISO frame work for records Management, positions organisations like the NPA to reap the benefits of enhanced records Management.
This he said, includes meeting legal obligations for accurate storage and retrievals” adding that the documents Management Solutions would institute a clear regime of improved accountability and transparency in addition to strengthening our auditing system and training process to world class standard.
The Documents solution centre which is of American model, will not only serve as a source for information storage and retrieval but as a reservoir of data of enduring values.
Bello Koko further expressed confidence at the realization of the Authority’s vision of deploying a single window to access records across all Port locations.
While the Documents solution Centre is expected to serve as an antidote to vandalism, theft and arson, the Acting Managing Director In his closing remarks, enjoined all staff of the Authority to take ownership of the facility, reminding them to deepen their maintenance culture while also admonishing them not to let the investment in the project be a wasteful venture.
It is envisaged, that before the end of 2021, the pilot project of the end-to-end documents management solution would have been achieved.
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