Lagos Deep Offshore Logistic Base (LADOL) and MAMMOET, world’s leader in heavy lifting technology have signed a strategic partnership to create a one-stop shop for engineering and fabrication of oil rigs and other marine platforms.

While unveiling the partnership at the groundbreaking ceremony of the project at the LADOL’s Free Trade Zone, Amy Jadesimi, CEO LADOL, said the strategic initiative would turn Nigeria into a one-stop engineering and fabricating centre, as well as lower the cost of service.

“The partnership will enable LADOL to utilise MAMMOET’s crane fleet and project management services to provide clients with more comprehensive and cost-effective solutions, particularly, the MTC 15, which turns any quay into a heavy lift terminal. With a load moment matching a 1,200t crawler crane or a large floating sheerleg, the MTC 15 enables loads up to 600t to be lifted to and from the quay from non-geared cargo vessels; and naturally lower cost,” the LADOL boss explained.

She further explained, “We have also estimated that the activities in organisation would, directly and indirectly, create 50,000 jobs, anchored to spiral positive effects on the country. We got that number by looking at the impact facilities like LADOL have had in other countries. So where you have hubs and strategic facilities like LADOL set up in other countries, it has resulted in 10 times multiplier of rent, so that’s how we got that figure.

“In terms of the local fabrication, one of the challenges we have right now is that when you fabricate, you still have to send pieces out of the country to make part of a larger whole which is very expensive. That means the demand for local fabrication is not high. People would rather fabricate and assemble outside the country and what is the biggest stumbling block: it is the lifting capacity.”

“Now by collaborating with MAMMOET, with the largest heavy lift company in the world, we have ensured that the largest, heavy lift in the world can be done in Nigeria, so you no longer have to send things out of the country.

 “It is cheaper to fabricate in Nigeria. We learnt on  EGINA project that the quality produced by Nigerian welders is higher than the International Average. We learnt in the EGINA project that engineering can be done 100 percent in Nigeria. So, we know we have the skills, we have the people; we just don’t have the facilities, the equipment and the partnership. But now in LADOL, we have the facility and we have the partnership.”

Harmen Tiddens, general manager of MAMMOET West Africa, said, “We are honoured and excited to partner with LADOL, because together we can bring greater value to our joint customers. Any company with a project that requires shipping or handling of project cargo in, to or from Nigeria, now has a new, fast, reliable and cost-effective option in Lagos.”