The Managing Director, Mohammed Bello Koko, accompanied by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transport, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, and the Executive Management Team, on Friday, June 9, 2023 commissioned the 80-ton Bollard Pull Tugboats newly acquired by the Authority for the provision of marine services to cater to the large vessels of 300 meters LOA and above that are already calling at Lekki Port and the existing ports.
While commissioning, the MD/CEO stated that this is part of the fulfillment of the service charter to provide relevant marine crafts, support port security patrol and surveillance, and most importantly, deliver excellent marine services, especially with the commencement of operations at Nigeria’s first deep seaport, the Lekki Deep Seaport.
“These neoteric 80-ton tugboats are the first of the 2813 Azimuth Stern Drive (ASD) Model in Africa, constructed by the world’s leading ship builders (Damen), and they possess exceptional seakeeping behavior, superb maneuverability of 360° using the Azimuth Thrusters, fire-fighting capability, and outstanding towing characteristics, which will enhance the maneuvering of large capacity vessels of 300 meters LOA and above presently calling at our ports.
“This further demonstrates the readiness of the Authority to take back transit and transshipment cargoes from neighboring countries.”
