Ports Authority to Sink 10 Vessels

THE GHANA Ports and Harbour Authority (GPHA) is ready to sink ten laid-up vessels whose condition endangers the Tema Port by next week.

At least, 21 others in a much better condition will be towed from the Port and bouyed at the anchorage.

A source close to the vessel owners hinted to the Chronicle that a meeting to this effect was held at the Fishing Harbour on Monday, this week with management of the GPHA.

The source said that following correspondences and series of meetings that took place, all partners agreed that something has to be done to save the two port installations, both main and fishing harbours.

The source, pleading anonymity, said the GPHA has asked owners of the ten listed vessels whose present state is deplorable to assist the Harbour- master with their engineers to locate valves that could be removed to allow easy sinking of the vessels by next week.

The deadline is tomorrow for the location of the valves.

Failure, the GPHA will secure the services of drivers to undertake under- water cutting of the vessels at high seas to submerge them. Drill expenses will be passed on to the defaulting vessel owners, possibly through legal action.

Our investigations revealed that the Director-General of the GPHA has in consultation with the Minister of State in charge of fisheries endorsed the action of sinking these ships.

The GPHA is particular about the Fishing Harbour, where bollards and quay walls are giving way due to excess weight from the laid-up vessels, some of which have remained at the port for over 20 years.

Flt. Lt. Tackie, an executive of the National Association of Fishermen of Ghana (NAFAG), at the meeting, conceded that the only way to save the port is disposing of these vessels.