NIMASA renews stevedoring rates to mitigate COVID-19 losses

In furtherance of efforts to mitigate impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has renewed the revised Offshore Cargo Handling and Operations Stevedoring rates contained in the second schedule of the agency’s Stevedoring Regulations 2014.

The renewal of the rates, which had been reviewed downward, is for six months. The Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, said renewal of stevedoring rates were in line with the agency’s determination to make the best of a bad situation caused by the pandemic.

“The idea is to make this unpleasant pandemic moment as friendly as possible to both businesses and the economy, in general. We are aware of the adverse effect of COVID-19 on business globally, how it has distorted business plans and skyrocketed costs in various sectors, particularly, the petroleum industry,” he said.

Jamoh added that the reviewed stevedoring rates apply to dry bulk cargo, liquid bulk cargo, onshore stevedoring and offshore royalty.

He said the agency’s regulatory powers under the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency Stevedoring Regulations 2014 empower it to review relevant fees, levies and charges.