Cargo throughput in Nigerian ports up by 7.2%

This is contained in a statement made available to the media on Sunday in Lagos by Iheanacho Ebubeogu, general manager, public affairs of the NPA.

NPA recorded 45.9 million tonnes of cargo throughput in the first quarter of 2014.

According Ebubeogu, a breakdown showed that general cargo was 6.4 million tonnes, while dry bulk cargo was 2.2 million tonnes.

“Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) shipment was 5.5 million tonnes; refined petroleum products stood at 4.3 million tonnes; while laden containers, which passed through all ports, were 233,331 TEUs,” he said.

NAN reports that empty containers handled were 163,850 TEUs, while 30,649 units of vehicles were handled in the period under review.

Ebubeogu explained that 5,139 ocean-going vessels, with a gross tonnage (GT) of 61.9 million tonnes, called in all Nigerian ports.

It explained that the GT of crude oil tankers recorded in the period under review (2015) showed a 12.21 per cent increase over the figure recorded in the first quarter of 2014.

The statement added that the Lagos Port Complex (LPC) recorded a gross registered tonnage of 9.2 million tonnes and received 372 vessels in the period under consideration.

“Tin-Can Island Port recorded a Gross Tonnage of 12. 2 million tonnes and handled a total of 435 ocean-going vessels within the period.

“Calabar Port Complex recorded a total Gross Tonnage of 958,288 through 100 ocean-going vessels in the period under review.

“Rivers Port Complex recorded a total Gross Tonnage of 1.4 million tonnes and handled 132 ocean-going vessels in the period under review.

“Onne Port Complex recorded a GT of 12.7 million tonnes with 1,025 vessels handled within the period.

“Delta Port Complex recorded Gross Tonnage of 1.6 million tonnes with 2,816 vessels handled,’’ he said.