TITLE:
Utilization of Cargo Handling Facilities in Nigerian Seaports
AUTHORS:
Donatus Eberechukwu Onwuegbuchunam, Kenneth Okechukwu Okeke, Moses Olatunde Aponjolosun, Chinemerem Igboanusi, Azuwueze Chikadibia Nwosu
KEYWORDS:
Cargo Handling Equipment, Infrastructure Utilization, Cargo & Vessel Throughputs, Ship Turnround Times
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Safety Science and Technology,
Vol.11 No.4,
October
8,
2021
ABSTRACT: Cargo handling operations are critical to port efficiency. Optimal utilization of cargo handling capacity is a challenge facing most ports in Nigeria and this has had an adverse effect on port operation (i.e.ship and cargo operation). This paper assessed the extent of utilization of cargo handling facilities and infrastructure performance in Nigerian ports. It applied the UNCTAD’s model ofindicators of port facility service and utilization to examine usage of facilities &infrastructure as well as significant constraining factors in six ports namely: Apapa, Tincan, Rivers, Onne, Delta and Calabar ports. The secondary data for the study comprised cargo and vessel throughputs handled in the ports, number of facilities & infrastructure and berth performance measures for the periodbetween years 2006and 2017. These were augmented with primary data on factors affecting port facility utilization obtained through copies questionnaires administered to a random sample of port users. Our Empirical findings using statistical models showed that on the average, vessels that called for service in the ports spent one and half day before being allocated to berths; spent four days (4) at berth and a total of six (6) days at the port before sailing outwards. In terms of berth utilization for all ports, we found that berths were on average, fourty-eight percent (48%) occupied during the study period. When disaggregated by respective ports,berth vacancy rates were higher in Delta ports andCalabar ports in comparison to others; while Apapa, Rivers and Tincan ports hadcomparatively higher berth occupancy rates. According to the respondents, significant impeding factors to portfacility utilization and performance were: obsolete plant & equipment, inadequate number of cargo handling equipment, delays in cargo handling procedures and low investments in cargo handling facilities by the terminal operators. Policy implications of the findings were discussed.