MWUN, BOAN to launch new SOP for barge operations from Nov 15

The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) and the Barge Operators Association of Nigeria (BOAN) have developed a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for barge operations in Nigeria as part of efforts to boost efficiency in barging as a viable alternative for cargo transportation.

The Steering Committee of the MWUN, BOAN Alliance in a joint press briefing in Lagos on Tuesday said the new SOP is expected to commence November 15, 2021 upon the inauguration of the Steering Committee Management Unit that will implement the operational guidelines.

Vice Chairman of the Steering Committee and Deputy Vice President General, MWUN, Comrade Harry Tonye, said the new SOP will cover the issues of safety, maintenance, training, documentation and certification, chandlering, medical communications, levies and dues, welfare, guide to conduct, fueling, berthing speed, insurance and barge management system App among others.

He explained that the new SOP, which was developed with inputs from SOPs by industry regulators including the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) will serve as guide to any person or organization involved in barging operation within the nation’s territorial waters.

“This SOP that we are declaring to the world today came up through maritime experts, encompassing all the regulators SOP together to form the one we are to follow. We have regulators in the industry such as NPA, NIMASA, Shippers Council and NIWA. So, this is how this current SOP came to being. The SOP doesn’t conflict with any of the SOPs from the regulators,” he said.

Head of Enforcement, BOAN and member of the committee, Nura Wagani, while responding to allegations on use of substandard barges by operators maintained that barges operated by BOAN members are of standard as members of the association have successfully moved about 800, 000 metric tonnes of general cargo from the Lagos ports.

He assured that the association with support from industry regulators will protect indigenous operators against foreigners who are trying to take over barge operations in Nigeria.

“On the issue of using sophisticated barges, we have two types of crafts. We have the sea going barge and we have creek going barges. We have low channels within the creeks and we cannot make use of bigger barges within our inland waterways because of so many factors. We are faced with the challenge of dredging because of the low channel and that is why we are using the creek barges.

“We also have the local content law. A barge fabricated in Nigeria is locally made in Nigeria and we have to prioritize our own products. Our barges are good. They are not substandard and that is why we have been able to move a lot of tons of cargo annually from the ports,” he said.

On the issue of insecurity, Wagani said there has been a decrease in attacks on barges in recent times as a result of enhanced collaboration between the association and the marine police as well as the Navy.

“We made some arrests in 2019 and we are collaborating with the marine police and the Navy. So, the security network now has improved tremendously. Presently, we are working without any stress but security is not something we can overlook and that is why it is among our SOP. As an association, we have donated two speed boats to the marine police to make sure that they patrol and secure our goods on the waterways,” he said.

Also speaking, a member of the steering committee, Bola Muse, assured that the enforcement team of the alliance will ensure strict compliance to the new SOP.