NPA Wants Marine Operations From APM Terminals

The National Port Authority (NPA) has intensified its demands to reclaim the Marine Services operations from APM Terminals.

NPA Boss In Meeting With APM Terminals Satff

This decision was reached Tuesday, April 24, 2018 following a meeting held with the Port Management team and the APM Terminals visiting CEO to Liberia held at the NPA head office on the Bushrod Island.

This Marine Services operations is a major source of revenue generation for the port and that NPA Management team is impressing upon APM Terminals to remit all revenues collected for operating from the Marine Services during the expired tenure contained in the concession.

David Skov, Chief Executive Officer and Regional Director of APM Terminals have agreed to send a team   of “experts” to finalize plans for the official turning over of the Marine Services back to the NPA.

NPA acting boss, Celia Cuffy Brown, reemphasized management’s position about reclaiming the marine services during the meeting and informed the APM Terminals Chief Executive Officer that the Port is resolved on the matter.

Madam Cuffy Brown indicated that the NPA has officially communicated said decision to the Ministry of Justice and other relevant government ministries and agencies.

Madame Brown stated that the US$7 million being generated annually by APM Terminals through the marine operations, with the port benefiting only US$4,000 robs the port of the needed revenue and further undermines government’s agenda to impact the lives of the poor.

Chapter 7.6 of the 2010 concession agreement between the Liberian Government and APM Terminals, APM Terminals allowed the Cargo Handling Company, APM Terminals to operate the Marines Operations of the port for five years only, something that prompted the current Management of the port to demand the turnover of the Marine operations after unsuccessful attempts by past management.

APM Terminals has operated the marine services for seven years plus and beyond the five years in the agreement and has generated over US$38 million while the Liberian government through the port has only received US$28,000 out of this amount in royalty.

As part of the demand to reclaim the marine operations, the NPA Management has requested APM Terminals to remit the money they accrued in those two years into the Liberian Government’s account.

The NPA through a former communication has also requested APM Terminals to remit all funds accrued from marine operations to its covers as of April 2018 until final turnover of the marine operations.

Mr. Skov, along with his Commercial Manager, Noah Sherriff and George Adyei, Managing Director has said APM Terminals is prepared to comply with the terms of the concession and work with the Port Management.

Also, in furtherance with revenue recovery plans by the current Port Management to enhance growth, improve infrastructure development and human capacity, the NPA has advanced efforts to regain operations of the weigh bridge at the Freeport of Monrovia.

Meanwhile, a team of NPA Personnel is currently being deployed for monitoring purposes at the weigh bridge which is another potential revenue strain for the port.