Bombshell: Marine Watch-Sierra Leone shatters SLPA
Marine Watch-Sierra Leone (MWSL), a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) founded and based in Sierra Leone, profoundly focuses on mainstreaming the welfare of seafarers and coastal communities through networking and collaboration with line Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). Their vision is to create an atmosphere where seafarers and coastal communities are adequately catered for.
According to the MWSL, the incapacity of the Sierra Leone Ports Authority (SLPA) in maintaining such basic port-traits does not only limit the income generating status with increased efficiency but a big embarrassment to the Ports Authority and its oversight institutions such as National Commission for Privatization (NCP), the Ministry of Transport and Aviation (MTA) and the Parliamentary Committee on Transport. This renowned institution reiterated on the fact that Port Authority lacks management capacity and that no part owned tug and pilot boat. The MWSL raises the gravest concern that SLPA is probably one of the only ports in the sub-region, if not the world without basic income generating and managerial capacity. They are still stressing that devoid of the fact that the services are being provided by Bolore and NECTA, the implications are far reaching in terms of effective port management.
SWSL is registering its doubt with regards the effectiveness of the oversight institutions, simply because it is not preferable by Management to hire a tugboat at the cost of $6,000 per day from Ghana than having its own. Based on our source, the tugboat issue was “within the purview of the Board” and that arrangements were been made to contract a company for the provision of a towage service. With the change of leadership at NCP and Ministry of Transport and Aviation, MWSL is calling for an immediate reactivation of the remotely shelved discusses to enhance effective and efficient port management.
In addition, when “trait functions” of the port are being “rationally preferred by management and blessed by its oversight bodies” to outsource a Pilot Boat from Sea Coach at understandably $400 an hour becomes not only a national concern and but plunged concern parties into a reputational crisis. Conclusively, if we sum the $400 hourly, daily, weekly, monthly and half yearly, is it managerially prudent to have a port-owned pilot boat or the same “preferred rationality” to hire. This is a national cause for concern.
By: Allieu Lamin Kamara
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