NIWA, LASWA seek innovative technology to achieve greener water transport
The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and Lagos State Waterways Authority (NIWA) are seeking harmonisation of innovative technologies that will enhance greener transportation in the country.
The two agencies made the move at the ongoing 2022 Lagos International Maritime Week (LIMW), with the theme: “New Technologies for Greener Shipping in Africa”, organised by Zoe Maritime Resources Ltd. in Lagos.
Reports that greener transportation, also known as sustainable transport, refers to modes of transportation that do not negatively impact the environment such as fossil fuels.
The greener transport modes rely on renewable energy sources such as wind and solar energy, hydroelectric, and biomass, among others.
Speaking, the Managing Director of NIWA, Dr George Moghalu, said that the regulation would help to meet modern shipping and transportation trends and maintain eco-friendly operations in the country.
Moghalu said greener shipping was the process of adopting cleaner and environmentally friendly energy sources to reduce Green House Gases and to protect the natural environment.
He argued that although ports and shipping activities promote trade and economic growth, energy consumption and emissions generated during its operations posed a huge environmental challenge to inland rivers and coastal environments.
“Studies have shown that presently, more than 90 per cent of Inland River Vessels use Diesel Engines which is the main source of nitrogen oxide and Sulphur dioxide emissions.
“These gases have negative impacts on the environment. These global greenhouse gases may continue to increase and pose serious health challenges if mitigation measures are not put in place to reduce it.
Therefore, advanced, cleaner propulsion systems using cleaner energies can be adopted to reduce fuel consumption and reduce significantly gas emissions from combustion engines,” Moghalu said.
He called for the need to encourage stakeholders and investors to invest in infrastructure compatible with greener technology in shipping for a better environment.
Moghalu said that agencies responsible for promoting these agenda would do well by setting realistic domestic, national agenda and goals towards achieving the objectives.
The NIWA boss said there should be commitment to adapt and adopt best global practices by domesticating appropriate international shipping conventions and protocols.
He called for need to set up an implementable best practices locally by involving all stakeholders’ contributions at the ports that would ensure the clean energy, using renewable sources using cold ironing (shore power)etc.
“Inland waterways transportation is an efficient, safe and environmentally friendly mode of transportation compared to other modes of transportation.
“The slow implementation and specific actions on the improvement and measures to reduce emissions from its operations remain a source of concern and may bleak these mentioned advantages in the future if nothing is done in this regard.
“The applicability of Green Technologies to the Inland Waterways Transportation Sector all over the world as compared to maritime shipping are being hampered by lack of credible information and feasible data to effectively deal with it,” he said.
Moghalu attributed lack of effectiveness of these technologies, and applicability of same to different categories of Inland crafts, mostly non-conventional vessels were another challenge to implementing these technologies.
The General Manager, Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), Mr Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, said the Lagos State Government was working on feasibility studies with the United Kingdom for Greener Ferries and Infrastructure.
Emmanuel said that the state signed a Green Bond MOU with MDQ Group and Financial Sector Deepening (FSD) Africa towards creating viable financing options for future green and sustainability projects.
He said that LASWA was identifying and meeting with companies to invest in energy efficient ferries and technologies for the Lagos inland Emmanuel said that Lagos State lagoons and waterways account for around 22 per cent of the city’s total area, saying that the current water route provides access to 15 of the 20 local government areas.
“Lagos State has the highest population in Nigeria, with over 25 million people.
“ Lagos State Government has provided equipment to enhance their operations such as underwater depth bathymetry survey, surveillance drone and underwater drone technology, geospatial mobile mapping web.
“Others are waterways monitoring and data management centre, detecting wreckages for removals, siting jetty or terminal, underwater depth for rescuing and emergency.
“We also have bathymetry Map of Lagos Lagoon selecting a suitable navigable route Areas for channelisation and dredging,” Emmanuel said.
He said that underwater depth for rescuing and emergency was completed in 2019 by the state government for 15 important routes on the Lagos inland waterways.
Emmanuel said that LASWA was established to provide a world class alternative public transport service that is accessible, reliable, and climate friendly.
He said that the authority had enhanced its attractiveness and reliability to stakeholders, adding that LASWA owns 55 jetties and operates 29 commercial terminals on the state inland waterways.
