‘Cabotage Implementation Absorbed 11,956 Nigerian Seafarers 2021-2023’ NIMASA

BY GBOGBOWA GBOWA

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has said that one of the cardinal principle of the Cabotage regime being the localization of manning vessels operating in Nigerian waters recorded significant achievement in the past three years.

Osagie Edward, NIMASA Assistant Director Public Relations in a statement explained that seafarers’ development content being one of the cardinal objective s has received and has continued to receive considerable attention, especially in the past three years.

The statement reads, “One of the cardinal principle of the Cabotage regime is the localization of manning vessels operating in Nigerian waters. To a considerable extent, NIMASA has ensured the placement of Nigerian seafarers on board Cabotage vessels in line with its placement function and the provisions of the Cabotage Act, 2003.

“Improving on this, Cabotage manning applications are now processed on the condition that all foreign crew especially Ratings on board vessels are to be replaced with Nigerian seafarers/cadets within two-three weeks of operations. Resultantly, 539 Nigerian seafarers have been recommended for replacement in the first quarter of 2023.

“NIMASA under the current administration led by Dr Bashir Jamoh OFR, have placed 3,705 seafarersonboard Cabotage vessels in the year 2021, 7,238seafarers placed in 2022 and 1013 placed in 2023 (Jan – July). Overall, a total of 11,956 Nigerian seafarers have been placed onboard Cabotage vessels from January-2021 to July- 2023.”

The Assistant Director PR further explained that the Agency has also established a digital registration process to enhance depth and wider outreach, with a holistic mechanism that guarantees effective and efficient participation built on system self audit and integrity.

“Registration and Documentation have now been digitalized as the establishment of the e-registration platform is to enable the online and real-time registration of maritime labour (seafarers & dockworkers), maritime labour employers (shipping companies, manning/crewing agents, stevedoring companies, jetties/terminals operators) and operators (bonded terminals, inland container deports, off dock terminals, dry ports offshore platforms) in Nigeria.

“It is worthwhile to mention that the maritime labour E-registration platform is a robust integrated information, verification and communication facility that provides real-time information on maritime labour registration processes and operations as well as enables the online registration and verification of documents, and the issuance of operational licenses timely. The platform is also meant to serve as a database from which statistics can be extrapolated for national planning, policy formulation, human and infrastructural development and research purposes. NIMASA is in the process to host the E-registration platform on the Agency website.

“Furthermore, 3,219 and 3,619 seafarers were registered in the years 2021 and 2022 respectively with 1176 registered in the year 2023 (Jan-July). In the same vein, 24 MLC, 2006 certificates were issued in the year 2021, 49 MLC, 2006 certificates issued in the year 2022 and 63 MLC, 2006 certificates have been issued in the year 2023 (Jan-July). Thus, a total of 8,014seafarers have been registered from 2021 to 2023 (Jan-July) and 136 MLC, 2006 certificates issued after inspections within the same years.

“Moreover 65 stevedoring companies, 26 terminal/jetty operators and 1,395 dockworkers have been registered from 2021 to 2023 (Jan-July).”

Osagie said NIMASA initiated the NSDP in 2008 with the sole mandate of training Nigerian youths to become seafarers and Naval Architects in fulfilling one of its cores in the area of Maritime Capacity Building.

“The programme was designed to train Nigerian youths up to Degree level in Marine Engineering, Nautical Sciences and Naval Architecture in some of the best Maritime Training Institutions (MTIs) abroad and to position them to compete effectively in the global Maritime Industry as a means of developing the Nigerian maritime space.

“Recall that in December, 2022 the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency sent forth 235 Nigerians to India and Greece as Batch B of the 435 young Nigerians to be trained as Licensed Deck and Engine Officers including Naval Architects under the Agency’s Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP) with an additional 200 having been previously sponsored for overseas training under Batch A.

“Speaking at the time, the NIMASA DG Dr Bashir Jamoh, OFR, noted that the Agency was working with countries who are committed to an understanding for mutual recognition of Certificate of Competency, CoC, and that had underpinned the selection of the chosen Institutes to train the beneficiaries. It is also noteworthy that the Agency has succeeded in providing seatime for all beneficiaries of the NSDP.

“This implies that the bedrock for young Nigerians to earn foreign currencies and improve remittances to the country has been set by the Agency.”