GPHA workers Block vessels From entering Tema Port …. As tug operators embark on ‘aluta’

The Marine Operations and Engineering Department of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), on Tuesday, embarked on strike to demand the enforcement of its 20 percent share in all containerised vessels entering the Tema Port.

Consequently, the department moored all its marine craft and refused to provide towage and pilotage for all vessels coming into the port or exiting.

The blatant refusal has been laced with an allegation of fraud being occasioned by some masters of vessels who increase the draft of the ships to enable them to qualify for the Terminal Three at the Tema Port, being operated by Meridian Ports Services (MPS).

The action, which resulted in an array of vessels stacked at the anchorage of the Tema Port with dropped anchors, commenced in the morning when personnel of the department, together with executive members of the local branch of the Maritime and Dockworkers Union (MDU), congregated at the Marine Block.

The personnel refused to mount the craft to pilot and tow the numerous vessels from the anchorage to either terminals one and two operated by the GPHA, and Terminal Three by MPS. According to the workers of the specialised department, their patience had run out on the alleged fraud to deny the GPHA of containerised vessels to work on, leaving them with only dry cargoes to contend with.

The Chronicle was informed that some time ago, there was an executive directive for the GPHA and MPS to allocate containerised vessels of 20 and 80 percentages respectively. Since then, there has been an unusually sharp increase of the drafts of vessels to the Tema Port, and this meant that all such ships ended up at the MPS terminal.

The workers claimed that independent investigations they conducted uncovered the alleged fraud being occasioned by some vessel owners/captains and terminal collaborators. The process reportedly adopted involves the filling of the ballast tanks with water to gain more weight and increase the draft of such vessels.

Though there has not been any official reaction to the allegation, a renowned marine surveyor The Chronicle spoke to, ruled out the assertion, saying it was doubtful, since the principals or owners of these vessels are always informed of the vessel draft at the port of departure, hence, the alleged fraud needed to be investigated thoroughly.

The workers are also pointing accusing fingers at some high profile personalities at the Marine Department, who they alleged are in collusion with these captains to perpetrate the fraud, in order to deny the state money through the GPHA

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