APM Terminals Liberia welcomes Italian naval vessel ITS Rizzo, reiterating support for combatting piracy and illegal trafficking

The Management of APM Terminals Liberia, in partnership with the National Port Authority (NPA) and Liberia Maritime Authority (LMA) welcomed the Italian Naval vessel ITS Rizzo to the shores of the Freeport of Monrovia during its ongoing mission in the region.

As part of the ongoing NATO mission in the Gulf of Guinea, the ITS Rizzo visited the Port of Monrovia on 5th June, before completing their mission and returning to Europe.  The efforts made on this mission are important to ensure the safety of both merchant vessel crews and the free flow of trade in the region. The Port of Monrovia and APM Terminals Liberia are fully supportive and recognise the positive impact it has on the area.

The Head of the Liberia Maritime Authority, Honourable Lenn Eugene Nagbe commented: “Piracy and illegal trafficking are growing concerns in the Gulf of Guinea and in waters outside of Liberia. The Ministry of Defense and the Liberian Maritime Authority is fully committed to ensuring Liberian waters are safe and secure for maritime trade.”  He also expressed his gratitude for the support of the NATO anti-piracy mission and his appreciation to the Commanding Officer and Crew of the ITS Rizzo.

Mr. Jonathan Graham, APM Terminals Liberia’s Managing Director, equally expressed sincere appreciation to ITS Rizzo’s Commanding Officer and Crew and its role in combating the growing issue of piracy and illegal trafficking within the Gulf of Guinea. “Firstly, and primarily, APM Terminals Liberia and its staff want to say thank you to the Commanding Officer and Crew and acknowledge the productive working relations among maritime security stakeholders”.

As the leader of the National Port Authority, NPA Managing Director Honorable Bill Twehway said: “The NPA administration is committed to ensuring the Port of Monrovia is operated in a safe and efficient manner and the partnership between the National Maritime Authority, APM Terminals Liberia and International agencies plays an important role in ensuring that Port of Monrovia retains is position as the gateway for commerce for Liberia.”  He expressed his appreciation to the Commanding Officer and Crew of the vessel and wished them smooth sailing on their return to their base port.

APM Terminals operates a multi-purpose port in the Freeport of Monrovia, the gateway to the Liberian economy and remains committed to offering reliable customer service and support to Liberia’s economic development.