By Mabinty M.Kamara
The Management of the Sierra Leone Ports Authority (SLPA) has concluded engagements with mining companies operating withing the Sherbro River, including the Sierra Leone Mineral Holding Limited 1 (VIMETCO) and Sierra Rutile Limited (Iluka Mining).
The engagements, according to officials of the SLPA, among other issues, was meant to establish a platform for dialogue with the mining companies, re-establish SLPA presence at Port Niti 1 & 2 in Bonth District, assess its landed property and look at the Cargo Tracking Notes payment for the export of Bauxite and Iron Ore, pilotage and stevedore services and visitation to their mining sites.
Speaking at the engagement meetings, SLPA General Manager, Dr Abdulai Fofana noted that the presence of SLPA was well established at Port Niti before the war, and as part of the structural and functional restructuring drive of his management, they had viewed the re-establishment of the Authority’s presence necessary for the operations of mining companies at the river Port of Niti - an outlet of the Sierra Leone Ports Authority.
Dr. Fofana went on to note that there has over the years been a complete communication gap between the Authority and the mining companies at the Sherbro River which has resulted to some disagreements between the Port and the mining companies, such as issues of Cargo Tracking Note payment on export.
He therefore called for a platform of dialogue between SLPA and Sherbro River mining companies, noting that the Authority was ready to encourage investment.
SLPA Deputy General Manager, Yankuba Askia Bio, expressed concern over the non-utilization of SLPA pilot on outbound service after loading of consignments. He added that the Authority for now only provides inbound services on the arrival of vessels.
SLPA Company Secretary and Head, Legal Affairs, Martin Maada George Esq observed the non-congenial relations between SLPA and the Sherbro River Mining Companies. He called for an open-ended dialogue to harmonize arrangements on Cargo Trafficking Note tariff, dredging of the Sherbro River Port and compliance to ISPS Code by Stevedore workers.
He also urged the mining companies to be mindful of the legal mandate of SLPA to provide outbound pilotage on all SLPA operational areas including Port Niti.
Speaking at the event, the SLPA Harbour Master, Kenneth O Jones noted that the channel to Sherbro Port is in need of buoys to guide vessels through and out of Niti Port. He however assured the companies that SLPA has engaged Sierra Leone Maritime Administration on the installation of buoys through Sherbro River channel.
VIMETCO General Manager, Basuded Datta and Iluka Mining representative, Dominic Hope expressed a range of concerns over issues affecting their operations such as the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code Compliance by stevedore companies and the effect of COVID- 19 on the Operations of VIMETCO and the Cargo Tracking Note fees on export, among others.
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