International Oil Companies including all other vessels operating on Nigerian waters will in April commence the payment of a new sea protection levy and offshore waste reception facilities to the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
A breakdown of the new sea protection levy as introduced by the apex maritime regulatory body, NIMASA to be paid by Floating Production Supply and Offloading (FPSO) vessels, FSU floating vessels, loading-receiving buoys, oil rigs and pipe lines, shows that offshore oil installation companies are to pay N15 million per annum, oil exploration wells to pay N10 million per annum while pipeline owners pay N1,500 per cubic meter from high water mark to the termination point offshore.
Further breakdown shows that Nigerian commercial flagged vessels with 100-1,000 gross tonnage (GT) are to pay (N500 per GT annually); 1,001 to 10,000 GT to pay (N350 per GT annually); 10,0001 to 100,000 GT to pay (N300 per GT annually) while vessels with 100,000 GT and above are to (N250 per GT annually).
Also, foreign flagged vessels that are between 100 and 1,000 gross tonnage are to pay ($0.1per tonnage), vessels between 1,001 and 10,000 gross tonnage, ($0.15per gross tonnage), vessels between 10,001and 100,000 gross tonnage ($0.3 per gross tonnage) and vessels from 100,000 and above $0.3 per gross tonnage
Speaking at the meeting of NIMASA and oil companies operating in Nigeria waters, Patrick Akpobolokemi, Director General of NIMASA said that the aim of the regulation is geared towards improving, preventing and sustaining Nigeria’s marine environment from waste pollution, by putting in place self-funding mechanisms that protects it from such occurrence.
“We are living witnesses to the degradation and destruction of Nigeria’s land and ecosystem with attendants economic implications, which oil pollution has caused the nation”, said Akpobolokemi, who was represented by the Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, Callistus Obi.
He said that the Federal Government in its commitments to ensure the protection of the marine environment and its resources ratified the Marine Pollution (MARPOL) convention which was the major instrument of IMO on the prevention of pollution of the marine environment.
Abiodun Gunwa, Head, Maritime Environment Management of the agency explained that the agency introduced the Marine Environment sea protection levy through a marine notice in August, 2012.
AMAKA ANAGOR
