The Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) has lifted its suspension on Maersk and COSCO, giving both companies two weeks to comply with four conditions designed to ensure sustainable volume.
Maersk and COSCO were, along with Lagos and Nigeria Shipping Agencies Limited (LANSAL) and African Port Services (APS), suspended by the NPA on July 14 after they allegedly failed to utilise holding bays and imported a large amount of empty containers.
Find out how Maersk are boosting logistics by reading a Port Technology technical paper
In a statement, the NPA said: “Among the conditions are that the affected companies must increase the capacity of their Holding Bays ranging from 1,800 TEUs to 7,500 TEUS; that the affected companies will sign-off on the volume capacity of the Holding Bays verified at the end of the grace period and that at the expiration of the two weeks an inspection will be conducted to ascertain compliance and that the Authority warned, thereafter further sanctions will be applied on failure to meet the said conditions.
“The decision by the NPA to grant the period of grace was after due consideration of their presentations at the meeting and a subsequent joint inspection on their existing facilities.”
Maersk’s statement said: “The temporary suspension has been lifted and operations have resumed.
“Maersk Line will continue to work closely with all relevant authorities in Nigeria to ensure sustainable services and operations to its local and international customers.”