FG, XPO Marine sign 20-year agreement for offshore waste facility
The federal government, through the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), has signed a concession agreement with XPO Marine Services Limited to provide Offshore Waste Reception Facility (OWRF) in the country’s eastern zone.
The concession agreement is for 20 years and is expected to be reviewed every five years.
Dr Bashir Jamoh signed for NIMASA while Wellington Agharese signed for XPO Marine. The agreement signing ceremony took place at the Federal Ministry of Transport, Abuja.
The agreement seeks to fulfil the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships – MARPOL 73/78, and Nigeria’s laws providing for the operation of Ship Generated Marine Waste Reception Facilities, which require the provision of waste reception facilities to cater for waste and pollutants generated at sea.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has recognized that provision of waste reception facilities is crucial for effective MARPOL implementation, and the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee has strongly encouraged member states, particularly those parties to MARPOL as port states, which includes Nigeria, to fulfil their treaty obligations on providing adequate waste reception facilities.
The importance of adequate waste reception facilities in the implementation of MARPOL and MARPOL’s policy of “zero tolerance of illegal discharges from ships” could only be effectively enforced when there are adequate facilities.
The Managing Director of XPO Marine Services, Wellington Agharese, expressed their capability and excitement to take on the responsibility, stating its commitment to ensuring the project is a success.