The Nation Newspaper

Tag: NIMASA

  • Conference holds in Delta

    Conference holds in Delta

    This year’s Shipping Career Summit organised by Ships and Ports Communication Company Limited will hold on Thursday in Effurun, Delta State

    Its Chief Executive Officer, Bolaji Akinola said the summit was to enlighten Nigerians and other investors on the various careers and investment opportunities available in the maritime sector.

    The summit, he said, would also empower participants, especially youths, who would  take advantage of the opportunities through mentoring.

    Akinola said Nigerians should not have any business with poverty or unemployment, considering the vast resources, especially its enormous maritime potential.

    He said the maiden edition of the forum held at the MUSON Centre at Onikan, Lagos, in July 2006.

    He noted that the summit has also been held at Abeokuta, Yenagoa and Makurdi.

    He said Warri was chosen for this year’s event “because of its large population of youths and because it is a natural maritime domain with ports in Warri, Koko and Burutu; a maritime university; several maritime training institutions; the NIMASA shipyard and several shipping operations domiciled in the state.”

    Resource persons for the seminar include former President, Nigerian Association of Master Mariners (NAMM), Captain Adewale Ishola; Honorary Secretary, Institute of Marine Engineering Science, and Technology (IMarEST), Alex Peters; and President, Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA) Nigeria, Mrs. Jean Chiazor-Anishere.

    Others include Executive Secretary, Nigeria Shippers’ Council (NSC), Mr Hassan Bello and Director-General, NIMASA, Mr. Patrick Akpobolokemi.

  • Academy faults NIMASA on training of master mariners

    Academy faults NIMASA on training of master mariners

    The Rector, Stars Maritime Academy (SMA), Dr. Reuben Ovai has said that both NIMASA and the master mariners are incompetent to comment on the legitimacy or otherwise and operations of private maritime schools in the country because they are not the regulatory authorities saddled with the responsibility of approving operations of technical education in the country.

    Ovai spoke  at the school premises at Itele, Ogun State in response to allegations levelled against private maritime schools in Nigeria as illegitimate recently by the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and some Master Mariners in the country. He said though a few of the schools may be operating illegally, it is wrong for any agency of government or anybody to make a blanket statement because some of the schools like STARS Maritime Academy were duly registered and accredited by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and the Federal Ministry of Education.

    He said for a government agency that is  supposed to know better to be accredited with such a published story that private maritime schools in the country are illegitimate sends a wrong information to the general public.

    The Rector said the Act that established NIMASA did not give them any right to accredit any maritime institution in the country, adding that the agency under its present management is taking too many responsibilities that are not for them. Master mariners are misinformed about private maritime schools, he added.

    Ovai stated that Stars Maritime Academy is the first private maritime school to be registered and approved by the NBTE and the Federal  Ministry of Education which also approved Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron , Akwa Ibom State. He said the license to operate as an academy was issued by the former minister of education, Professor Rukkayat, as well as the Executive Secretary of NBTE in 2003.

    The STARS maritime Academy Rector stated that the course curriculum use by the school was developed and handed over to them by NBTE, which is the authorised body that approve Polytechnics and Montechnics in Nigeria.

    “Stars Maritime Academy is also included in the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) list, which is the recognised body in the country for admission into tertiary institutions. Presently the school run the following courses:  shipping management, nautical sciences and marine engineering. The school is also an employer of labour”, Ovai stated. He insisted that NIMASA is not an academic accrediting body in Nigeria educational system, but a regulator in the practising of maritime profession.

    The Rector said Nigeria  needs more than one maritime academy as Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron alone cannot satisfy the yearnings of maritime education in the country in the area of human capacity development for the nation.

    He noted that MAN, Oron came into existence over  30 years ago when Nigeria’s population was less than  100 million but today the population is over 180 million.

     

     

     

  • NIMASA spends over N32b on seafarers’, cadets’ training

    The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA)  has spent over N32 billion  on 3,938 Nigerian seafarers’ and 44 cadets’ sea time training abroad, its Director-General, Patrick Akpobolokemi, has said.

    He told reporters in Lagos that NIMASA spent about N8 million on each trainee, adding that the aims are to stem criminality on our waters as well as end foreign dominance in the industry.

    Akpobolokemi, represented by the Executive Director of Maritime Safety and Shipping Development, Capt Ezekiel Bala Agaba, said NIMASA also trained 1,498 dockworkers in the first-half of the year, to boost cargo handling.

    Sea-time training for seafarers has  become a major challenge since the collapse of the national  line, hence, placing the seafarers aboard vessels has become a priority for NIMASA.

    The Nation learnt that NIMASA is set to float a new national carrier to give the seafarers the training at home and stop the huge amount spent on their training abroad.

    Akpobolokemi said: “Currently, if we decide to go and hire or procure a vessel to train cadets, we are looking at N23 million per year on each cadet, and I am sure you know that NIMASA cannot afford that. We are not funded by the government. It is funded by three per cent of vessels that come to Nigeria, if our trade goes down and vessels don’t come; we don’t earn money, there is no point hiring vessels and over the year we won’t be able to maintain them.

    “This is why we have decided to go a cheaper road by sending the cadets to available vessels all over the world, and the cost goes down from N23 million by owning a vessel, to about N8 million per cadet which is being prudent,” he explained.

    “We are not relenting in our quest to ensure that all beneficiaries of this programme acquire sea-time training, which was a challenge in the past.”w

    Apart from that, the agency has introduced a programme for ratings under which 200 beneficiaries will be sent to the Philippines for training, while another set of 100 beneficiaries will also proceed to Malaysia for training.

  • Lawyers urge govt on Shippers’ Council’s funding

    Lawyers urge govt on Shippers’ Council’s funding

    LAWYERS have urged the Federal Government to prioritise the funding and provision of legal teeth to the  Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC).

    A  former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Mrs. Mfon Usoro identified funding as a critical to the NSC’s survival, urging the government to address the issue for the ports’economic regulator.

    She said NSC needs to be armed with powers of the law to execute its statutory functions. She called on President Goodluck Jonathan and the transport minister to pursue the passage of the bills as soon as possible so that the Council can succeed.

    Also, the President of the Nigerian Maritime Law Association, Mr. Louis Mbanefo (SAN) and other  legal experts called on President  Goodluck Jonathan and the Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar, to pursue the issue of legal backing for the NSC as an important instrument for it to  play its role well.

    The stakeholders said the passage of the Ports & Harbours and the National Transport Commission (NTC) Bills as important for the ports industry, as well as to aid the NSC operations as the ports regulator.

    He identified the need for law for the NSC, adding that it should have been the first thing. He said the government to expedite action on the issue.

    Another maritime lawyer, Mr Chidi Ilogu (SAN), however, said the council can operate as a Regulator with its current law, adding that the need for urgent passage of the necessary bills for the regulator to operate cannot be over-emphasised.

    Its Board Chairman, Lt Gen. Salihu Ibrahim and Executive Secretary, Mr Hassan Bello, had during the meeting with stakeholders assured that the Council will not disappoint operators, including providers and consumers of shipping services in the discharge of its duties.

  • Rector faults NIMASA, master mariners over stattus of maritime institute

    The Rector, Stars Maritime Academy (SMA), Dr. Reuben Ovai, has said  both the Nigeria Maritime Adminsitration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and  master mariners are incompetent to comment on the legitimacy or otherwise of the operations of private maritime schools in the country because they are not the regulatory authorities saddled with the responsibility of approving operations of technical education.

    Ovai spoke at the school premises in Itele, Ogun State in response to allegations levelled against private maritime schools in the country as illegitimate recently by the NIMASA and some master mariners in the country. He said though a few of the schools may be operating illegally, it is wrong for any agency of government or anybody to make a blanket statement because some of the schools like STARS Maritime Academy were duly registered and accredited by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and the Federal Ministry of Education.

    He said for a government agency that suppose to know better to be accredited with such a published story that private maritime schools in the country are illegitimate sends a wrong information to the general public.

    The rector said the Act that established NIMASA did not give them any right to accredit any maritime institution in the country, adding that the agency under its present management is taking too many responsibilities that are not for them. Master mariners are misinformed about private maritime schools, he added.

  • NIMASA urges adherence to safety principles on waterways

    NIMASA urges adherence to safety principles on waterways

    The Director General of  the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Mr Patrick Ziakede Akpobolokemi, has urged boat drivers and passengers to be guided by routine safety principles to check water accidents.

    Speaking while donating life vests to three jetties in Calabar and Bakassi local government areas of Cross River State, as part of the programme lined up for the 2014 maritime safety awareness campaign, he charged them to ensure they always put it on whenever they travel.

    The DG, who was represented by the District Surveyor, Warri District Office of NIMASA, Engr James Eyo, said: “There is a need for boat drivers and water passengers to stay alive from the point of embarkation to their destination through acceptable code of conduct and approved speed limit.”

  • Senate faults NIMASA over non-release of contractors’ funds

    The Senate Committee on Maritime Transportation faulted at the weekend the piecemeal release of funds by the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to contractors handling the IBBU-NIMASA Institute of Maritime Studies in Lapai, Niger State.

    The committee, led by Senator Zaynab Kure, expressed displeasure at the agency’s inability to release funds, despite the commitment of the contractors to the permanent site of the institute.

    Most of the contractors, during the committee’s visit to the site, complained of delay in the release of funds by the agency.

    They feared that the delay may hinder the December deadline for the completion and handing over of the buildings.

    The senators became more worried when a contractor, who had not been paid the mobilisation fee after doing about 30 per cent of his job, complained that the financial burden was too much for him.

    The senators wondered why NIMASA was starving the contractors of funds.

    They noted that the agency had no excuse to delay the fund to contractors since the Senate had approved the budgetary provision for the construction of the institute.

    “We are not happy with NIMASA for starving contractors of fund. Most of the contractors have complained of no fund. We are not happy with the agency over non-payment of contractors. The Senate has cooperated with NIMASA by approving its budget. So, they have no excuse not to pay the contractors,” Kure said.

    She hailed the contractors for doing a good job, adding that her committee would take the matter up with the NIMASA management.

    Kure said: “We are happy with the level of work on the ground. We commend the contractors for their patriotism and for the confidence they had in NIMASA, especially when most of them have not got more than mobilisation fee and have worked far beyond the milestone level.”

  • NIMASA donates 150 life jackets to boat operators

    Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) chief Patrick Akpobolokemi is sensitising passengers and enforcing safety standards to curb boat mishaps in the country.

    Speaking at the kick-off of the campaigns for operators of boats and other mechanically-propelled water craft in Lagos, the director-general said safety was paramount to the agency.

    “NIMASA is committed to the safety of lives and property on the nation’s waterways and as such, will continue to intensify safety awareness campaigns in states where water transportation is in high use.

    “We are also concerned about the increasing number of boat accidents which have claimed many lives and property.

    “Information-sharing with stakeholders has the potential to significantly reduce accidents.

    “Under the International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS 1974), NIMASA as the custodian of all IMO conventions also has responsibility to ensure the safety of lives at sea of all kind of craft in its waters,’’ he further said.

    Akpobolokemi said NIMASA, as a maritime administrator, is committed to the enhancement of safety of marine transport.

    The agency, he said, will continue to educate boat operators and enlighten passengers utilising water transport on the safety procedures to be adopted at all times.

    It urged boat operators to adhere  to safety standards in all their operations to stop deaths occasioned by boat accidents on the waterways. The statement said the campaigns in states such Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Delta and Kogi would commence this week.

    Meanwhile, the agency has donated over 150 safety jackets to boat operators in Warri, Delta to mark the ‘Awareness Campaign on Maritime Safety’.

    NIMASA ‘s Assistant Director, Capt Kunle Olayiwola, handed over the jackets to the operators at Ogolaha Jetty in Warri on behalf of the agency.

    Olayiwola, who is also the District Surveyor, Eastern Zone of NIMASA, warned the beneficiaries against selling them, noting that proper use of the items would encourage the agency to provide more.

    “Do not sell the life jackets because that is the only way you can encourage us to provide more.’’

    Olayiwola urged the operators to make proper use of the jackets and to also avoid speeding and over-loading for their safety.

    He said the campaign was to educate the boat operators on the hazard of sailing without observing the rules, saying that they should always operate with optimum efficiency.

    The director also advised the operators to ensure they carried the approved number of jackets and fire-fighting equipment on their boats.

    “Boat operators must check the engine performance every morning and do necessary servicing regularly.

    “Loaded boats must be properly balanced before embarking on any journey and also have a minimum of two lifebuoys on board.

    “Boat or canoe drivers must have fire extinguishers and must shun night journey or low visibility to avoid falling prey to pirates,’’ he said.

    The Warri Zonal Coordinator of NIMASA, Mr Akin Akinyosoye, said the programme was to guarantee safety on the nation’s waterways.

    He urged the operators to take advantage of the exercise to enhance their operations and promote safety.

    The Chairman of the Maritime Workers Union, Market Road in Warri, Mr Yakubu Biukeme, who spoke on behalf of the operators, commended NIMASA for the gesture.

  • ‘Nigeria fully compliant with ports facility code’

    The United States on Friday confirmed that 13 more port facilities in Nigeria were now fully compliant with the International Ships and Ports Facility Security (ISPS) Code.

    This is contained in a statement issued by the Deputy Director and Head of Public Relations of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Mr. Isichei Osamgbi, in Lagos.

    According the statement, the total number of compliant port facilities in Nigeria is now 22.

    The number of compliance was nine after the last visit of the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) on May 21, 2013, it said.

    The statement said the U.S government acknowledged the effort of the agency in raising the security levels of ships and port facilities.

    It said that Nigeria should be assured of its commitment to continue to partner with the U.S to improve on security measures.

    “The U.S Government has imposed Conditions of Entry (COE) on vessels calling from some Nigerian port terminals which are yet to comply with the International Ships and Ports Facility Security (ISPS) Code.”

    The statement said the COE would require affected vessels to meet certain security measures, prior to entering U.S ports.

    “According to the Diplomatic Note, the COE are not trade sanctions and do not ban Nigerian ships from entering U.S ports.

    “It does require ships, however, to take certain additional security related measures and the COE has no impact on shipping traffic entering Nigerian waters, as well as berthing at its ports.

    “It deals only with shipping traffic departing Nigerian ports that is destined for the U.S,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the agency as saying in the statement.

     

  • NIMASA uses satellite to rescue fishing vessel

    The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has launched its satellite surveillance system in conjunction with the Nigerian Navy and the Air Force, and successfully rescued a Ghanaian fishing vessel Marine 711 from suspected hijackers last week.

    The vessel, NIMASA sources said, was hijacked off the coast of Ghana and sailed across Togo and Benin Republic to Nigerian waters when the Embassy of the Republic of Korea contacted the agency to help rescue the vessel owned by its national.

    The Ghanaian Fisheries Authority and the operators of the fishing vessel requested NIMASA to end the attack.

    In an operation coordinated by NIMASA’s  Director of Shipping Development, Capt. Warredi Enisuoh, the source said, the new surveillance system with Cloud penetrating radar capabilities was brought to bear and the incident was resolved within six hours.

    NIMASA, working with the Nigerian Navy through the sea and the Nigerian Air Force through the air, it was gathered, attacked the hijackers who abandoned the vessel and fled.

    The 24-hour surveillance centre, NIMASA said, has the capability to detect boats, ships and objects of predefined cross-section floating on the waters. These include any aircraft that ditches and remains on the surface during satellite over-flight.

    The Director-General of NIMASA, Mr Patrick Akpobolokemi, expressed satisfaction with the cooperation of the Ghanaian Authorities, Navy and the Air Force in the operation and said the agency would continue to utilise cutting-edge technology and partnership with the military to secure the waters to facilitate trade.

    This, according to NIMASA, is the first regional cooperation between NIMASA, Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Air Force and the Ghanaian Authorities in the anti-piracy war in the Gulf of Guinea, which is hinged on the provisions of the Bilateral Agreement on Regional cooperation on anti-piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.

    Nigeria, as a signatory to the International Safety of Life and Sea (SOLAS) and Search and Rescue (SAR) Conventions, is obliged to intervene and provide co-ordination during safety and security-related incidents on her territorial waters and beyond.

    The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) designated Nigeria as one of the five Regional Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centres (RMRCCs) in Africa. Nigeria therefore provides SAR and Security Co-ordination on the waters of Benin Republic, Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, Sao Tome & Principe and Togo, in addition to its own territorial waters.