Fashola Orders 60 Ferries

Posted By On April 20, 2012 @ 4:32 pm In Metro,News | 2 Comments

Lagos State Government will soon take delivery of 60 ferries, as the state Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN), on Thursday witnessed the signing of the Ferry Manufacturing Agreement between Aluminium Boats Company of Brisbane, Australia and Eko Water Buses Limited, a consortium of water transportation practitioners.

The agreement was made during the state governor’s visit to Brisbane, Queensland in Australia to accelerate inter-modal transportation through the extensive use of the state’s vast waterways.

The agreement signing event, which was preceded by an inspection and a ride on one of the prototype ferries being manufactured for the state, by Governor Fashola and his entourage, is for the initial batch of 60 ferries each with a 200-passenger capacity to be deployed on various routes.

These ferries are like the water buses because of their passenger carrying capacity.

The inspection and signing of the Ferry Manufacturing Agreement was made, following a recent Memorandum of Understanding between the Lagos State Government represented by the Private Public Partnerships Office and the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) and the consortium, Eko Water Buses Limited, which aims to deploy one ferry for a pilot scheme by July this year.

According to the agreement and production schedule, five more of the purpose built and fully fitted high capacity ferries will be deployed by December this year.

However, in the near term and as part of the positive spin offs from the agreement, about 50 Nigerians will benefit from a comprehensive training programme in Marine Operations, Boat Services and Repairs in the expansive boat building facility of Aluminium Boats Company in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, as a prelude to the full commencement of the ferry services operations in December.

Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) and his entourage were received in Brisbane, Queensland by a representative of the Premier of Queensland, the Treasurer and Minister for Trade, Mr Tim Nicholls, the top management of Aluminium Boats Company of Australia, including its Chief Executive Officer, Mr Stuart Pascoe and General Manager, Mr Tommy Ericson.

Also in attendance were the representatives of Eko Water Buses Limited led by its Chief Operating Officer,Mr Muyiwa Omololu, and their technical partners, including Mr John Waterhouse and Captain Elgin Mckilop.

Also on hand to meet with the Governor and his entourage which included the Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Private Partnerships, Mr Ayo Gbeleyi and Managing Director of the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), Mr Yinka Marinho, were representatives of international financial institutions backing the landmark project including Westpac lnstitutional Bank of Brisbane, Commercial Banking of Australia and the Export Finance and Insurance Corporation (EFIC).

Apart from a test ride on the prototype of the ferry demonstrating its versatility, durability and safety features, the governor and his entourage also undertook an extensive tour of the company’s boat yard during which he inspected one of the boats being built for the Lagos operations.

The major private sector partners of this project which will provide a great boost to safe and secure water transportation in Lagos State as an integral part of the inter-modal transportation which also includes the Bus Rapid Transit system and the light rail project, Eko Water Buses Limited is a consortium of world class ferry operators.

It includes Western Pacific Maritime based in Vancouver, Canada, the Eliot Bay Design Group and other technical partners like Transit Systems of Australia and Whitewater Marine Corporation of Canada.

Article printed from P.M. NEWS Nigeria: http://pmnewsnigeria.com

URL to article: http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2012/04/20/fashola-orders-60-ferries/

Treasurer and Minister for Trade, Tim Nicholls today attended the signing of an historic agreement between the Lagos Government and local boat manufacturer, Aluminium Boats Australia (ABA) which is set to boost Queensland’s export dollars by up to $150 million and create 140 local jobs. Mr Nicholls said under the arrangement, Queensland owned Aluminium Boats Australia will supply the Lagos State Government with 60 passenger ferries to transport the city’s workers to and from work and around the Islands.

“This is a huge boost for the Queensland economy, ABA and the local marine industry. The construction of these ferries will also provide additional work for around 18 Queensland companies which supply to the marine industry. These Queensland built passenger ferries will reduce a four hour average commute time for the millions of people living in Lagos to less than 20 minutes. The project will create around 140 jobs and provide a great confidence boost to our local marine and manufacturing industry. This great result is the culmination of a significant amount of work by ABA’s CEO Stuart Pascoe, State and Federal departments both in Australia and Nigeria, in particular Trade Queensland. In addition to the export of the ferries, training will be provided for 350-400 Nigerian boat crew operators in Queensland, coordinated by TAFE and Skills Tech at a value of around $80 million. We are delighted with the Lagos Government’s investment in our local boat manufacturing industry,” Mr Nicholls said.

The contract was signed today at ABA’s headquarters in Hemmant, Brisbane in the presence of Mr Nicholls and the Governor of the State of Lagos, His Excellency the Honourable Babatunde Fashola.

Aluminium Boats Australia (ABA) builds world-class aluminium and composite high performance light craft. Specialising in ferries and leisure craft, using the highest quality materials and latest construction techniques, ABA provides tailored solutions to commercial and private owners alike. From its modern undercover shipyard in Queensland, Australia, ABA has produced a wide range of vessels in monohull, Wave Piercing and standard catamaran form, for a diverse range of customers. ABA also provides service support and engineering solutions across the industry.

kunlekunle: when will he construct a shipyard in lagos?
lets start our own and stop importing.

Eko Ile: You mean the lagos state government should build a shipyard and until they build the shipyard, no ferry service for Lagosians?

Do you think the government of Australia built that shipyard?

I think some of you just open your mouth just because you can and not because you are capable of thinking.

tpia@:




your desire for a shipyard doesnt stop you from appreciating the ferry service assuming you ever need to use it.

apples and oranges?

CyberG: ^ Funny, but NL has discussed these kind of issues MANY times: IT IS NOT THE GOVERNMENT'S BUSINESS TO BUILD ANY KIND OF MANUFACTURING YARD BUT PRIVATE BUSINESSES WHO HAVE THE EXPERTISE (Capital letters for emphasis).

For example, you or any Nigerian who has the knowledge could start exactly this kind of business and in 5-10 years time, other states including Lagos would be contracting your company to build or even upgrade their boats and facilities.

kunlekunle:


my concern is this, if you were around in the 70s, you'll remember the imported busses later called oku eko,
in the 80s we had the LSTC, mentainence and tech know how killed it.
we need to get it right once.
the govt has to work with private sector to get the economy moving.
who will invest in the startup process? private sector with most living on loan.

kunlekunle: i am a typical lagosian,
i just dont jump at things of such, kudos for effort, but the future is better than the now.

you should think ahead bro.
no stress

kunlekunle: ol boy i dont take fash brandy

kunlekunle: ol boy i dont take fash brandy

kunlekunle: its like you dont understand me or you refuse to understand.
he's doing a marvellous job, but can still be improved.
A consuming nation hardly grow economically.
that's my point

Jarus: Nice one. Water transport is long overdue in Lagos to decongest the roads. I don't have confidence in the currently operating local ones yet, although a couple of my colleagues use it to Ikorodu from VI. They are also well patronized in Ajah here, but hey, I no sabi swim, I still prefer the roads with the traffic and time-wasting now. Maybe this can inspire my confidence.

kunlekunle: when will he construct a shipyard in lagos?
lets start our own and stop importing.