Nigeria seeks support of classification societies to maintain standards for vessels operating on territorial waters
The Director General of the Nigerian
Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Dr. Dakuku Peterside has reiterated
Nigeria’s commitment to continue to set high standards for vessels and oil
platforms operating within Nigeria’s territorial waters in line with the Safety
of Life at Sea Convention (SOLAS ’74).
Dr. Peterside said this during an
engagement with officials of the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) Asia Pacific
region led by the President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) Mr Derek Novak in
Singapore.
engagement with officials of the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) Asia Pacific
region led by the President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) Mr Derek Novak in
Singapore.
The NIMASA DG emphasized that Nigeria was
not and could not be a dumping ground for substandard vessels and therefore
solicited the support and cooperation of classification societies such as ABS
to establish and maintain high technical standards for construction and
maintenance of vessels and other maritime structures.
not and could not be a dumping ground for substandard vessels and therefore
solicited the support and cooperation of classification societies such as ABS
to establish and maintain high technical standards for construction and
maintenance of vessels and other maritime structures.
He said the maritime sector, which is the
facilitator of the national economy in Nigeria is growing at a rapid rate and
therefore needs all the support it can get.
facilitator of the national economy in Nigeria is growing at a rapid rate and
therefore needs all the support it can get.
He advocated for regular ship survey to
ensure compliance with set standards and assured the delegation that it is one
of the priorities of the new administration in NIMASA.
ensure compliance with set standards and assured the delegation that it is one
of the priorities of the new administration in NIMASA.
In his remarks, Novak said ABS has been
working with Nigeria for a long time and that the Bureau will continue to
maintain the high standards for which the ABS is known. He promised to work
with his counterpart in West and Central Africa so that
NIMASA can benefit from some of the training opportunities ABS offers.
working with Nigeria for a long time and that the Bureau will continue to
maintain the high standards for which the ABS is known. He promised to work
with his counterpart in West and Central Africa so that
NIMASA can benefit from some of the training opportunities ABS offers.
Novak expressed optimism that Nigeria is
properly positioned to emerge as the shipping power house of West and Central
Africa if the country puts its house in order and build on its infrastructural
and human capacity. He also identified Singapore as a great maritime nation
from which Nigeria should seek closer ties.
properly positioned to emerge as the shipping power house of West and Central
Africa if the country puts its house in order and build on its infrastructural
and human capacity. He also identified Singapore as a great maritime nation
from which Nigeria should seek closer ties.
Thomas Tan, the Vice President of ABS,
Asia Pacific region was also at the meeting.
Asia Pacific region was also at the meeting.
