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| President of SOAN, Engr. Greg Ogbeifun |
President of the Ship owners Association
of Nigeria(SOAN) Mr Greg Ogbeifun, has called on investors to key into
available opportunities in Nigeria’s ship-breaking and recycling sector.
of Nigeria(SOAN) Mr Greg Ogbeifun, has called on investors to key into
available opportunities in Nigeria’s ship-breaking and recycling sector.
Speaking in an interview, Ogbeifun said
that prior to this time, wrecked ships were taken to foreign countries for
breaking and recycling, but that the cost of moving such wrecks had made it
unprofitable.
“There are a huge number of wrecked ships
scattered over the waterways of Nigeria.
scattered over the waterways of Nigeria.
“Until the 1960s, ship-breaking was
considered a highly mechanized operation concentrated in industrialized
countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, Germany and Italy.
considered a highly mechanized operation concentrated in industrialized
countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, Germany and Italy.
“From the early 1980s, ship owners sent
their vessels to the scrap yards of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the
Philippines and Vietnam where payment, health and safety standards are minimal
and are desperate to work.
their vessels to the scrap yards of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the
Philippines and Vietnam where payment, health and safety standards are minimal
and are desperate to work.
“The aim was to maximize profit, but today,
in Nigeria these vessels are left abandoned midstream and around waterfronts
within the country.
in Nigeria these vessels are left abandoned midstream and around waterfronts
within the country.
“The cost of towing these vessels to other
parts of the country makes it no longer profitable for ship-breaking and
recycling of steel,” he said.
parts of the country makes it no longer profitable for ship-breaking and
recycling of steel,” he said.
The SOAN President, however, said that
some companies had started shipyard expansion to key into the sector, which has
potential for developing and giving the required service locally.
some companies had started shipyard expansion to key into the sector, which has
potential for developing and giving the required service locally.
“Companies such as Starzs Marine and
Engineering Ltd., operators of the Starzs Shipyard at Onne, have commenced
shipyard expansion that will incorporate ship-breaking.
Engineering Ltd., operators of the Starzs Shipyard at Onne, have commenced
shipyard expansion that will incorporate ship-breaking.
“However, there is need for serious foreign
partnership in terms of utilisation of the best available technology.
partnership in terms of utilisation of the best available technology.
“There are small activities in
ship-breaking by some firms down south in Calabar.
ship-breaking by some firms down south in Calabar.
“The Indians have also indicated interest
for partnership in ship-breaking with Starzs Marine and Engineering Ltd at
Onne, Rivers State,” he said.
for partnership in ship-breaking with Starzs Marine and Engineering Ltd at
Onne, Rivers State,” he said.
Ogbeifun was optimistic that investment in
the sector, and with the readiness to build capacity in the use of required
technology, would open the sector for greater number of jobs for Nigerians.
the sector, and with the readiness to build capacity in the use of required
technology, would open the sector for greater number of jobs for Nigerians.
